Synthesis, characterization, electrochemical properties of metal-free and metallophthalocyanines bearing 2-benzylphenoxy substituents and investigation of their biological activities

The metal-free phthalocyanine (H 2 Pc) and metallophthalocyanines complexes (CoPc, CuPc and ZnPc) were synthesized by the reaction of dinitrile derivatization in dry n-pentanol by a classical method. The structures and electrochemical properties of the new compounds were characterized by using spectroscopic data, elemental analysis and electrochemical studies. Voltammetric analyses of phthalocyanines supported the proposed structure of the synthesized complexes. Antimicrobial and mutagenicity activities and DNA binding properties of the compounds were also investigated by minimum inhibitory concentration and salmonella/microsome assays and agarose gel electrophoresis. This study showed that all compounds exhibited efficient DNA-binding activity. In conclusion, non-toxic compounds may be used as effective DNA dyes for molecular biology studies and be used as anticandida drugs.