Characteristic response of tetra(methylbenzyloxy)-substituted zinc-phthalocyanine toward picric acid

Here we demonstrate that the phthalocyanine-based derivative of Zn[Pc(O-Bn-CH3)4] 3 has been newly synthesized and can function as a highly selective chemosensor against picric acid (PA). Pc derivative 3 showed efficient and selective fluorescence quenching toward PA, during which 3 exhibited a significant morphological change from round spheres to irregularly square-like aggregates. Various characterization techniques were successfully employed to analyze the intermolecular interaction of 3 with PA, revealing that charge-transfer complex from 3 donor to PA acceptor was formed via nitrogen atoms of 3.