Effect of air-absorbed oxygen and moisture on the chemical stability of photoexcitedMg,ZnandEuphthalocyanines in dimethylformamide

Absorption of oxygen and moisture from air by MPc-DMF systems was studied and related to the molecular stability demonstrated by phthalocyanine complexes (unsubstituted MPc's : MgPc , ZnPc and EuPc2; Pc = phthalocyanine ligand, C32H16N8) subjected to UV irradiation. A lower stability of air-exposed dimethylformamide solutions is observed and is due to a specific affinity for molecular oxygen revealed by the Pc macrocycle. SEM results proved oxygen molecules fixed to the phthalocyanine solids by forces strong enough to sustain desorption under vacuum. Absorption curves determined for MPc-DMF systems also indicate oxygen accommodated by the phthalocyanine moiety. This explains the predominant…