Synthesis, characterization and investigation of electrical and electrochemical properties of imidazole substituted phthalocyanines

Compound 1 has been synthesized by the reaction of 4-nitrophthalonitrile and 4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazolethiole in DMSO in the presence of K₂CO₃. Compound 2 has been synthesized by heating compound 1 with metallic lithium in pentanol and hydrolyzed with hydrochloric acid (10%) and then neutralized with ammonia solution. Compound 3 and 4 have been synthesized by heating 1 with ZnCl₂ or CoCl₂ in DMF in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU), respectively. The new compounds were obtained in sufficient purity after successive washing with different solvents and were characterized by elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV-vis, IR and mass spectra. We also studied aggregation behavior, electrochemical and electrical properties of these phthalocyanines. Direct current (dc) and alternating current (ac) conductivity (40-100 kHz) measurements of films of 2, 3 and 4 were performed in the temperature range of 295-523 K. Impedance spectra (IS) of the 2, 3 and 4 were also studied. The conduction processes were discussed. Temperature dependence of dc conductivity of the films revealed that 2, 3 and 4 show a semiconductor behavior. Results of ac measurements showed that, conduction processes of the films of the complex consisted of different mechanisms depending on temperature and frequency.