A study on the ability of some phthalocyanine compounds for photogenerating singlet oxygen

The ability of some metallophthalocyanines for photogenerating singlet oxygen was studied. It was found that the central atoms in these compounds exert considerable influence on the sensitization abilities. Their activities decrease in the order Zn > Mg > Cu > Mn > Co > Fe. In solution an equilibrium between phthalocyanine monomer and dimer must be considered, which shifts with the change of the concentration or the polarity of solvents. Therefore the ability of phthalocyanines for producing singlet oxygen also change under different conditions.