β metal-free phthalocyanine

The molecule of the title compound, C32H18N8, is slightly distorted at the corners. Two of the phenyl rings are located below the molecular plane while the other two are above the plane. This leads to a molecular symmetry of C-i as opposed to D-2h, assumed for the free molecule. The crystal data are basically in good agreement with the beta phase reported by Robertson [J. Chem. Sec. (1936), pp. 1195-1209], whereas the geometrical parameters are slightly different.