Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods for synthesizing phthalocyanines, particularly HOSiPcOSi(CH.sub.3).sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.3 N(CH.sub.3).sub.2, which do not involve photolysis, and which produces purity of at least about 95%, and in the preferred embodiment of the first method of synthesis provide a yield of greater than about 70% and typically greater than 80%. The first method involves a method for synthesizing a phthalocyanine compound comprising the following steps: providing a phthalocyanine precursor having a central silicon; adding a first aminosiloxy ligand to the central silicon of the phthalocyanine precursor; adding a second aminosiloxy ligand to the central silicon of the phthalocyanine precursor; displacing the second aminosiloxy ligand by an organic acid ligand, preferably Cl.sub.3 CCOO ligand; then displacing the Cl.sub.3 CCOO ligand with an HO ligand.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a series of novel phthalocyanine compositions (or compounds) suitable for use as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. Specifically, the invention relates to a series of new aluminum (Al) germanium (Ge), gallium (Ga), tin (Sn) and/or silicon (Si) phthalocyanines having substituted amine or quaternary ammonium axial ligands attached to the central metal, and the use of these new phthalocyanine compositions for the treatment of cancer through photosensitization. Moreover, the present invention is directed to the methods of preparing these compositions for use in photodynamic therapy.