The adenine-containing zinc(II) phthalocyanines 3, 4a, and 4b have been pre
pared by standard O-alkylation of the tetrahydroxy analogue 1. These macroc
ycles exhibit rather strong intermolecular interactions resulting in a poor
solubility in organic solvents and unusual spectral properties that are hi
ghly solvent-dependent. Self-assembly of the tetra-adenine phthalocyanine 3
and the thymine-containing 9,10-anthraquinone 6 through the Watson-Crick b
ase-pairing interactions has also been demonstrated by fluorescence quenchi
ng experiments. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.