Two　alpha-substituted　vanadium-oxo　phthalocyanines,　[(OC6H3(t-Bu)(2))(4)Pc]VO　and　[(OC8H17)(4)Pc]VO,　where　OC6H3(t-Bu)(2)　is　2,4-di-tert-butylphenoxy　and　OC8H17　is　2,2,4-tri-methyl-3-pentoxy,　were　synthesized　and　characterized　by　elemental　analysis,　mass　spectrometry,　UV-visible,　IR,　ESR　spectroscopy　and　electrochemistry.　Both　complexes　have　good　solubility　and　do　not　aggregate　in　polar　or　non-polar　solvents.　Three　reductions　and　two　oxidations　can　be　observed　in　DMF　containing　0.2　M　TBAP.　A　HOMO-LUMO　gap　of　similar　to　1.4　V　is　seen　for　both　complexes.　The　first　two　one-electron　reductions　and　first　oxidation　are　reversible　diffusion　controlled　electrode　processes　under　the　given　experimental　conditions.　The　effects　of　solvent　and　phthalocyanine　macrocycle　substituents　on　the　Q　bands　of　the　electronic　absorption　spectra　are　discussed.　Copyright　(C)　2005　Society　of　Porphyrins　&　Phthalocyanines.