Synthesis and characterization of new partially-aggregated water-soluble polyether-triazole linked zinc(II) phthalocyanines as photosensitizers for PDT studies

Peripheral and non-peripheral octa-carboxylated water-soluble zinc(II) phthalocyanines with clicked polyethylene glycol linkers have been prepared. Different multistep reaction pathways have been attempted and compared for the preparation of the phthalonitrile precursors. Novel compounds have been characterized by combination of elemental analysis, 1H and 13C NMR, FT-IR, U–vis and MS spectral data. Both phthalocyanines were proved to be water soluble. Their singlet oxygen generation was determined in both water and DMSO to assess their potential of photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. © 2019 Elsevier B.V