A novel method for the direct synthesis of crystals of copper phthalocyanine

A novel, solvothermal method for directly growing crystals of the β-form of copper phthalocyanine that involved using quinoline as solvent and cooling the reaction mixture to room temperature is proposed. Needle-like, single crystals of CuPc up to 10 mm in length were prepared using 1,3-diiminoisoindoline and Cu(AcO)2·2H2O in the quinoline solvent. The influence of the temperatures, growth time and solvent volumes on crystal yield were determined.