Use of various activated forms of elemental nickel and copper for the synthesis of phthalocyanine at low temperature

The synthesis of non-substituted metal phthalocyaninates, starting from phthalonitrile in various non-aqueous solvents, by using chemically activated nickel in two forms (commercial pyrophoric metal and synthesized Rieke nickel) and copper (Rieke copper) at low temperatures (0–50°C), is described. The presence of activated metal causes the rapid formation of phthalocyanine metal complexes (PcM) in low-weight alcohols. A reaction mechanism is proposed which includes the participation of small metallic aggregates as matrices for phthalonitrile cyclization.