A series of new metal monophthalocyanine complexes were synthesized from 4,5-iso-propylidenedioxyphthalonitrile and their spectroscopic and electrochemical properties were studied. The removal of the protective isopropylidene groups from these compounds afforded symmetrically substituted octahydroxyphthalocyanines.
4,5-Dihydroxyphthalonitrile was synthesized from pyrocatechol in a simple way. The compound obtained is a convenient starting reagent for the preparation of 4,5-dialkoxyphtlialonitriles.