Synthesis, characterization and photochemical properties of novel octakis(p–fluorophenoxy)substituted phthalocyanine and its gallium and indium complexes

The selected graph demonstrates the way of synthesis for the novel phthalocyanine complexes. It also demonstrates the significance of photochemical research: presented gallium and indium phthalocyanines show high values of singlet oxygen quantum yields in described photochemical studies. [Display omitted] •Octakis(p–fluorophenoxy)substituted phthalocyanine and its gallium and indium complexes were synthesized and characterized.•A new method was proposed for the synthesis of the indium phthalocyanine.•Indium and gallium phthalocyanines show strong fluorescence in the solution.•Both complexes show high values of singlet oxygen quantum yields. Octakis(p-fluorophenoxy)-substituted phthalocyanine and its complexes of gallium and indium have been obtained in high yields (89% and 86% respectively). Unmetallated phthalocyanine and gallium complex were synthesized for the first time and the new method for the synthesis of indium complex was proposed. The obtained compounds were characterized by a combination of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, UV–Vis, and NMR spectroscopies. Photochemical properties of gallium and indium phthalocyanines were investigated. It was shown that these complexes maintained high production of singlet oxygen and potentially can be used in photodynamic therapy.