Photophysical and photochemical properties of Ni(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II) aryloxo and alkylthio derivatised phthalocyanine

Several aryloxo (3a–6a and 3b–6b) and alkylthio (3d and 3e) derivatised phthalocyanines were synthesized, characterized and the photochemical and photophysical properties investigated along with those of the previously reported (3c–5c, 4d, 5d, 4e and 5e) complexes. The effects of open-shell metals (Ni(II), Pd(II) and Pt(II)) on the photophysical and photochemical properties of the phthalocyanine ligands were investigated. Palladium and platinum improved the triplet quantum yield and singlet oxygen generation capacities of the unmetalated phthalocyanines (3a–3e) making their complexes candidates for further investigation in photocatalysis. Ni(II)Pc analogues gave poor results compared with their Pd(II)Pc and Pt(II)Pc counterparts.