The Solid Phase, Room-Temperature Synthesis of Metal-free and Metallophthalocyanines, Particularly of 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-Octacyanophthalocyanines

Room-temperature synthesis of phthalocyanines (pcs) by condensation of phthalonitriles in the presence of solid sodium methoxide in THF is proposed for the synthesis of metal-free pcs with temperature- and/or base-sensitive substituents. The addition of metal salts after metal-free pc formation in the same vessel produces metallopcs in moderate to high (ca. 30–90%) yields.