A binuclear phthalocyanine containing two different metals

The unsymmetrical binuclear phthalocyanine 4a and the symmetrical binuclear phthalocyanine 4b with two different metals (Ni and Cu), as well as the correspondent binuclear phthalocyanines with two Ni atoms (4c and 4d) were synthesized from the benzoannulated dicyano-substituted, Ni phthalocyanine 2. Atomic absorption spectroscopy verified unambiguously the presence of Ni and Cu in the binuclear phthalocyanines. The proposed synthetic route demonstrates great versatility towards substitution at the peripheral positions of the ring and the variation of the chelating central metal. Complexes 4a-4d are soluble in common organic solvents of medium polarity. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003).