Method of solubilizing phthalocyanines and metallophthalocyanines

Abstract

A one-step method of manufacturing soluble phthalocyanines and metallophthalocyanines, like zinc phthalocyanine, by converting a phthalocyanine or a metallophthalocyanine to a trialkylsilyl-substituted derivative is disclosed. The phthalocyanine or metallophthalocyanine is converted to a soluble trialkylsilyl-substituted derivative by interacting the phthalocyanine or metallophthalocyanine with an active metal amide, like lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide, and a halotrialkylsilane, like chlorotrimethylsilane, to provide a phthalocyanine compound, like phthalocyanine monomers, dimers or polymers, metalated or unmetalated, that are soluble in organic media.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows: 
     
       1. A phthalocyanine compound exhibiting solubility in organic media and having the formula:   MPc (SiR'R"R'").sub.x     wherein Pc is phthalocyanine; M is a metal ion selected from the group consisting of zinc, copper, iron, cobalt, nickel, rhodium and ruthenium; R' is methyl, R" is ethyl, and R'" is isopropyl; x is a numeral ranging from one to four; and the SiR'R"R'" substituent is present on the phthalocyanine compound at one or more of the nonperipheral carbon positions of the phthalocyanine compound numbered 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, and 25.   
     
     
       2. The compound of claim 1 wherein x is the numeral 2, the numeral 3, or the numeral 4.