The synthesis and photoproperties of six new metal 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octabutoxyphthalocyanines and photoproperties of the known, analogous Zn and metal-free phthalocyanines are described. The new compounds are AlPc(OBu){sub 8}OSiEt{sub 3}, GaPc(OBu){sub 8}OSiEt{sub 3}, GePc(OBu){sub 8}(OSiEt{sub 3}){sub 2}, SnPc(OBu){sub 8}(OSiEt{sub 3}){sub 2}, RuPc(OBu){sub 8}(py){sub 2}, and PdPc(OBu){sub 8} (where Pc(OBu){sub 8} represents the octabutoxyphthalocyanine ligand). Benzene-d{sub 6} solutions of all eight of the compounds give NMR spectra showing large ring-current effects. Benzene solutions of the compounds give visible spectra with absorption maxima in the 688-779-nm range having extinction coefficients between 1.0 {times} 10{sup 5} and 2.2 {times} 10{sup 5} M{sup {minus}1} cm{sup {minus}1}. The triplet-state properties of the phthalocyanines in benzene solutions have been measured by laser flash photolysis. The triplet states have absorption maxima in the 550-640-nm range, quantum yields in the 0.1-0.9 range, and lifetimes when the solutions are deaerated in the 0.5-150-{mu}s range. The rate constants for energy transfer from the triplet states of the compounds to O{sub 2} are between 1.3 {times} 10{sup 8} and 2.8 {times} 10{sup 9} M{sup {minus}1} s{sup {minus}1}.