Phthalocyanines and phthalocyanine analogues: The quest for applicable optical properties

The central subject of this article is the description of the current work of the authors in the context of the Cost Action 518, project DE-1, and the Phthalocyanines Research Training Network, both financed by the European C ommunity. The aim of the above projects is the design, synthesis, and struc tural and physical characterization of molecular and polymeric materials ba sed on phthalocyanine derivatives with particular optical properties, as we ll as the study of their technological applications in the sensors field.