The control of phthalocyanine properties through nitro-group electronic effect

The UV-vis spectra of peripherally substituted tetranitrometallophthalocyanines (TNMPcs) 1a-1d and non-peripherally substituted TNMPcs 2a-2d were investigated. In comparison of 1a with 2a, there is the only difference in the substitution position of nitro-groups. The structural diversity of 1a and 2a resulted in different electronic effects of nitro-group on Pc rings, which caused them have two kinds of Q bands. The Q band in the UV-vis spectra of 1a-1d was split into two peaks, which were obviously influenced by temperature, while no split was observed in the Q band of 2a-2d. We can draw a conclusion that tuning nitro-group electronic effect is an important approach for controlling the properties of Pcs.