Synthesis of soluble metal phthalocyanine derivatives and their electron transfer properties

Metal phthalocyanine derivatives exhibit high electron transfer abilities, although they are insoluble in most common organic solvents, which has inhibited them from being employed in functional colorants that can take advantage of their useful electron transfer properties, Soluble metal phthalocyanine derivatives, metal octakis(hexoxymethyl)phthalocyanines, and a new type of phthalocyanine derivative, metal anthraquinocyanines, have been synthesised in this study. The electron transfer behaviour of the phthalocyanines and anthraquinocyanines, were examined with cyclic voltammetry. This showed one irreversible oxidation and one pair of reduction potentials. Cyclic voltammograms of metal anthraquinocyanines exhibited the irreversible redox behaviour. The electron transfer properties of metal phthalocyanine derivatives were influenced by the ring current of π electrons about the conjugated system. Ring currents of metal phthalocyanine derivatives consisted of five loops, whereas those for metal anthraquinocyanines were made up of a simple loop.