Zinc-phthalocyanines and corresponding conjugates, their preparation and use in photodynamic therapy and as diagnostic agents

Compounds of general formula (I) in which:

• R and R.sub.1 represent H or the group X-R.sub.5, where:
• X is chosen in the group consisting of --CH.sub.2 --, O, N, S, C.dbd.O, and ##STR10## where:
• Y is chosen in the group consisting of C.sub.1-10 -alkyl, phenyl possibly substituted, (CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.p, where p ranges from 1 to 4;
• Z is chosen in the group consisting of H, N, O, S, SO.sub.3, --CH--, --CH.sub.2 -- carbon atom, CH.sub.2 O, CONH, (CH.sub.2).sub.q CO.sub.2, where q ranges from 0 to 2;
• R.sub.2 is chosen in the group consisting of H, C.sub.1-12 -alkyl, PO(OEt).sub.2, CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 NH.sub.2, aryl, and crown ether, or it forms, with the Z group to which it is bound, a saturated or unsaturated heterocycle, possibly substituted, which may contain up to two hetero-atoms chosen among N, O, and S;
• R.sub.3 and R.sub.4, which may be the same or different from one another, are chosen in the group consisting of H, CH.sub.3, and C.sub.2 H.sub.5, C.sub.3-12 alkyl m, n, w, t (independently from one another) are 0 or 1;
• V is an integer comprised between 1 and 5;
• with the proviso that at least one of R and R.sub.1 is always other than H.