Poly(oxyethylene)-Substituted Copper and Lutetium Phthalocyanines

A new family of nonionic water-soluble lutetium bisphthalocyanines and a copper monophthalocyanine have been synthesized and characterized. Optical absorption determinations demonstrate aggregation processes in water. Optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction measurements have also been performed on the materials. The substituted copper complex yields a hexagonal columnar liquid crystal above 62 °C; this mesophase can incorporate up to 16% (w/w) of triethylene glycol without significant disturbance of the structure. One of the substituted lutetium bisphthalocyanines affords a tetragonal columnar mesophase; the other bisphthalocyanine derivatives show only highly ordered crystalline-like phases. Conductivity measurements have been carried out on thin films of the previous derivatives to determine the relative electronic and ionic conduction contributions.