Structures and spectroscopic properties of nonperipherally and peripherally substituted metal-free phthalocyanines: A substitution effect study based on density functional theory calculations

The molecular structures, molecular orbitals, atomic charges, electronic absorption spectra, and infrared (IR) and Raman spectra of a series of substituted metal-free phthalocyanine compounds with four (1, 3, 5, 7) or eight (2, 4, 6, 8) methoxyl (1, 2, 5, 6) or methylthio groups (3, 4, 7, 8) on the nonperipheral (1–4) or peripheral positions (5–8) of the phthalocyanine ring are studied by density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations. The calculated structural parameters and simulated electronic absorption and IR spectra are compared with the X-ray crystallography structures and the experimentally observed electronic absorption and IR spectra of the similar molecules, and good agreement between the calculated and experimental results is found. The substitution of the methoxyl or methylthio groups at the nonperipheral positions of the phthalocyanine ring has obvious effects on the molecular structure and spectroscopic properties of the metal-free phthalocyanine. Nonperipheral substitution has a more significant influence than peripheral substitution. The substitution effect increases with an increase in the number of substituents. The methylthio group shows more significant influence than the methoxyl group, despite the stronger electron-donating property of the methoxyl group than the methylthio group. The octa-methylthio-substituted metal-free phthalocyanine compounds have nonplanar structures whose low-lying occupied molecular orbitals and electronic absorption spectra are significantly changed by the substituents. The present systematical study will be helpful for understanding the relationship between structures and properties in phthalocyanine compounds and designing phthalocyanines with typical properties.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (97 K)Download as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights▶ Substitution has many influences on the structure and properties of phthalocyanine. ▶ The molecular and electronic structures and spectroscopic properties are studied. ▶ The substitutional effect differs with the number and substitutional position. ▶ Electronic nature of methoxy and methylthio groups also has significant influence. ▶ Density functional theory calculation at the B3LYP/6-31G* level is reliable.