New 3,3-diphenylpropoxyphthalonitrile (5) was obtained from 3,3-diphenylpropanol (3) and 4-nitrophthalonitrile (4) with K 2 CO 3 in DMF at 50 C. The novel cobalt(II) phthalocyanine complexes, tetrakis- [2-(1,4-dioxa-8-azaspiro[4.5]dec-8-yl)ethoxy] phthalocyaninato cobalt(II) (2) and tetrakis-(3,3-diphenylpropoxy)phthalocyaninato cobalt(II) (6) were prepared by the reaction of the phthalonitrile derivatives 1 and 5 with CoCl 2 by microwave irradiation in 2-(dimethylamino)ethanol for at 175 C, 350 W for 7 and 10 min, respectively. These new cobalt(II)phthalocyanine complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, UV-visible and mass spectroscopy) as well as elemental analysis. Complexes 2 and 6 are employed as catalyst for the oxidation of cyclohexene using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA), aerobic oxygen and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) as oxidant. It is observed that both complexes can selectively oxidize cyclohexene to give 2-cyclohexene-1-ol as major product, and 2-cyclohexen-1-one and cyclohexene oxide as minor products. TBHP was found to be the best oxidant since minimal destruction of the catalyst, higher selectivity and conversion were observed in the products. a 2-Cyclohexen-1-ol. b 2-Cyclohexen-1-one. c Cyclolohexene oxide. d TON, moles of product/moles of catalyst. e TOF, moles of product/moles of catalyst  time.