In this study, a new phthalonitrile derivative, (E)-4-(3-(3-(3-methoxyphenyl)acryloyl)phenoxy)phthalonitrile, and four peripherally (E)-4-(3-(3-(3-methoxyphenyl)acryloyl)phenoxy) tetrasubstituted new Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), and Cu(II) phthalocyanine derivatives are synthesized and characterized. (E)-4-(3-(3-(3-Methoxyphenyl)acryloyl)phenoxy)phthalonitrile is synthesized by heating (E)-1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one and 4-nitrophthalonitrile in the presence of K2CO3 in dry DMF at 60°C for 96 h. The metallophthalocyanines are prepared by cyclotetramerization of (E)-4-(3-(3-(3-methoxyphenyl)acryloyl)phenoxy)phthalonitrile with NiCl2, Zn(CH3COO)2, CoCl2, and CuCl2 in n-pentanol in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene. Characterization of the new compounds is performed by means of IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass and UV-Vis spectroscopy techniques. © The Author(s) 2019. FEN-BAP-A-230218-05, 230218-05 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5817-0817 Çakır Volkan Department of Property Protection and Security, Emergency and Disaster Management Program, Espiye Vocational School, Giresun University, Giresun, Turkey Volkan Çakır, Department of Property Protection and Security, Emergency and Disaster Management Program, Espiye Vocational School, Giresun University, Giresun 28600, Turkey. Email: volkan.cakir@giresun.edu.tr 12 2019 1747519819893047 24 7 2019 16 11 2019 © The Author(s) 2019 2019 SAGE Publications In this study, a new phthalonitrile derivative, ( E )-4-(3-(3-(3-methoxyphenyl)acryloyl)phenoxy)phthalonitrile, and four peripherally ( E )-4-(3-(3-(3-methoxyphenyl)acryloyl)phenoxy) tetrasubstituted new Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II), and Cu(II) phthalocyanine derivatives are synthesized and characterized. ( E )-4-(3-(3-(3-Methoxyphenyl)acryloyl)phenoxy)phthalonitrile is synthesized by heating ( E )-1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one and 4-nitrophthalonitrile in the presence of K 2 CO 3 in dry DMF at 60°C for 96?h. The metallophthalocyanines are prepared by cyclotetramerization of ( E )-4-(3-(3-(3-methoxyphenyl)acryloyl)phenoxy)phthalonitrile with NiCl 2 , Zn(CH 3 COO) 2 , CoCl 2 , and CuCl 2 in n -pentanol in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene. Characterization of the new compounds is performed by means of IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, and mass and UV-Vis spectroscopy techniques. characterization cyclotetramerization metallophthalocyanine phthalonitrile synthesis edited-state corrected-proof typesetter ts1 Declaration of conflicting interests The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Funding The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: We are greatly indebted to The Research Fund of Giresun University (FEN-BAP-A-230218-05, Project No: 230218-05) for the financial support of this work. ORCID iD Volkan Çakır https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5817-0817 Supplemental material Supplemental material for this article is available online.