Phthalocyanine　zinc　(ZnPc)　is　an　important　class　of　photosensitizers.　Derivatization　of　phthalocyanine　ring　with　chemical　functional　groups　provides　anchor　points　for　covalent　attachment　of　biological　targeting　agents,　thus　increasing　the　selectivity　of　the　photosensitizers.　ZnPc　with　symmetric　and　multiple　functional　groups,　e.g.,　tetracarboxyphthalocyanine　zinc,　is　easy　to　be　prepared　but　is　unfavorable　for　linking　targeting　agents　due　to　many　reasons.　On　the　other　hand,　single-substituted　ZnPc,　is　more　challenging　to　synthesize　and,　especially,　to　purify.　Here　we　report　the　synthesis　of　an　unsymmetrical　phthalocyanine,　2-carboxyphthalocyanine　zinc　1,　with　a　single　carboxylic　group　on　phthalocyanine　ring,　and　the　design　of　its　chromatographic　purification.　©　2005　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.