Addressing subphthalocyanines and subnaphthalocyanines features relevant to fluorescence imaging

A series of new synthetic subphthalocyanines bear structural features aimed at allowing either fluorescence activation or a bathochromic shift of the absorption band towards the near-infrared window, relevant to optical imaging. X-ray diffraction studies of four subphthalocyanines are reported. Spectrofluorimetric studies on subnaphthalocyanines and activatable subphthalocyanine pro-fluorophores are reported.