Novel metal-free and metallo-phthalocyanines, with different substituents at peripheral positions, have been synthesised by cyclotetramerisation of 4- (2,4,6-trimethylphenylamino) phthalonitrile and 4-(pyridine-2-ylsulfanyl)phthalonitrile in the presence of the corresponding divalent metal salts [Zn(II), Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II)]. Quaternisation of the metallophthalocyanine functionality produced quaternised cationic Zn, Cu, Ni and Co phthalocyanines, which are soluble in DMF, H 2 O and DMSO. The aggregation behaviour of these compounds was investigated in different concentrations of DMSO. Their thermal stability and electronic stability are reported.