Abstract Attempts to prepare various peripheral tetra-and octasubstituted (phthalocyaninato) iron derivatives R n PcFe [n= 4: R= CH 2 OEt (6e), CO 2 Et (6h), CO 2-nC 6 H 13 (6l), O (2-Et- nC 6 H 13)(6j), OCH 2 C (CH 3) 3 (6k), OCH 2 C (CH 3) 2 CH 2 Ph (6l); n= 8: R= CH 2 CH (CO 2 Me) CH (CO 2 Me) CH 2 (6f), CH 2 CH (CO 2 Et)-CH (CO 2 Et) CH 2 (6g), OnC 8 H 17 (6m), O (2-Et-nC 6 H 13)(6n)] by starting from the corresponding substituted phthalonitriles ...