SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF A NEW CATIONIC WATER-SOLUBLE ZN PHTHALOCYANINE

The synthesis of dimethyl-2-trimethylammonium)ethylphthalocyaninato Zn (II) tetraiodide 2-a new cationic phthalocyanine - is reported as well as its photophysical properties in water, relevant for the use of thi s dye as photodynamic sensitizer. The hydrophobicity of the macrocycle leads to strong aggregation which lowers the fluorescence and singlet oxygen quantum yields of aqueous solutions of 2. Photophysical parame ters agree with those of other Zn phthalocyanines when correction is p erformed for the fraction of light absorbed by the monomer. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science S.A.