Group-IV-Aphthalocyanines with four crown ether substituents have been prepared from 4′,5′-dicyanobenzo(15-crown-5), 4′,5′-diiminoisoindolino(15-crown-5), or metal-free phthalocyanine and the corresponding metal salts. The axial ligands of dichloro[tetra(15-crown-5)phthalocyaninato]silicon or -tin have been converted into dihydroxy derivatives by hydrolysis in aqueous Et3N. The catalytic effect of