Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of new phthalocyanine derivatives: application as photocatalysts for the degradation of Orange G

New derivatives of 2(3),9(10),16(17),23(24)-tetrakis-(6-methylpyridin-2-yloxy)phthalocyanine (Pc) (2b, 2c, and 2d) were synthesized and their structures were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, $^{1}$H NMR, and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The spectral results were in line with the proposed structures. The photodegradation of Orange G (OG) dye in DMSO by the Pc derivatives was investigated. The compounds showed relatively high photodegradation rates that increased with increasing size of the central atoms. The Pc photodegradation rates showed fair correlation with the singlet oxygen generation efficiencies (${\Phi }_{{\Delta }})$. The observed rate constants were higher than the values already reported for other Pcs in the literature for the photodegradation of OG in aqueous media.