Synthesis and characterization of new metallophthalocyanines bearing highly substituted imidazoles

New mono-nuclear metallophthalocyanines (M = Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn) I–V bearing highly substituted imidazole moieties at peripheral positions have been synthesized from derivatives of 4-[4-(2,4,5-triphenyl-1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenoxy]phthalonitrile at reflux temperature. These complexes have been characterized by UV/Vis, FT-IR, 1H NMR, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and thermogravimetric analysis. The aggregation behavior of these complexes was investigated under different conditions. Phthalocyanines I, III, IV, and V show monomeric behavior in solution and phthalocyanine V has the highest molar extinction coefficient in the visible region.