Studies on Phosphorus Phthalocyanines and Triazatetrabenzcorroles

Abstract

The previously reported reaction of phthalocyanines [H2(pc)] with PBr3, which was claimed to give a phosphorus(III) phthalocyanine “(PcPIII)”, has been reinvestigated in detail with both unsubstituted and alkyl-substituted phthalocyanines, 1-4. The products exhibit unusual electronic and mass spectra compared to normal phthalocyanines and have been identified as oxophosphorus(V) triazatetrabenzcorroles 5–8. The corresponding dihydroxyphosphorus(V) phthalocyanine hydroxides 9–12 have also been synthesized for the first time by insertion of phosphorus(V) into phthalocyanines and have been characterized in detail. The different reactivities of PBr3 and POX3 (X = Cl, Br) toward phthalocyanines are discussed.