Mixed cyclisations giving phthalocyanine–naphthalocyanine hybrids

Mixed cyclisations have been performed to give phthalocyanine–naphthalocyanine hybrids bearing solubilising substituents. Reactivity differences between the two phthalonitrile precursors result in inefficient mixed-macrocyclisation under standard, non-templating conditions leading to predominant formation of symmetrical phthalocyanine. Templated mixed-macrocyclisation leads to the hybrids. However, the reaction proceeds with unexpected selectivity with only one of the possible 2:2 products observed.