New aryl-terminated octaalkynyl tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines were prepared in three steps starting from functionalised bisarylalkynyl 1,2-diones. While the tert-butylphenyl substituents were shown to aid solubility in organic solvents and to reduce chromophore aggregation efficiently, more hydrophilic tetrapyrazinoporphyrazines were obtained through the use of polyethylene glycol-substituted (PEG-substituted)