Metallophthalocyanines (MPc's) [M being one of the following
metal ions: Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), or
Zn(II)],
bearing amide side chains and being highly soluble in organic solvents,
have been synthesized by starting
from the corresponding phthalonitrile. All four compounds can form
Langmuir and Langmuir−Blodgett
films, but interestingly, their behavior as monolayers was shown to be
very much dependent on the central
metal ion. The study of Π−A isotherms, low-angle
X-ray diffraction patterns, and IR dichroïsm allowed
us
to elucidate these behaviors. Cobalt and zinc phthalocyanines are
coordinated with water molecules and
therefore orient with an angle of around 60° with the normal to the
air−water interface or to the substrate.
On the other hand, nickel phthalocyanine is not coordinated with
water; Π−Π interactions become possible,
and the molecules can orient more vertically at the air−water
interface; they form columns that orient in the
transfer direction during the deposition process. Finally, the
copper phthalocyanine is an intermediate case.
For low surface pressures, it behaves like Co and Zn compounds;
the square planar copper(II) is certainly
liganded with water molecules. At higher surface pressures, the
water molecules are ejected and the
macrocycles can orient more vertically (angle of around 30° between
macrocycle and normal to the air−water interface) and form oriented columnar structures when deposited
onto substrates.
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