Unique donor-​π-​acceptor phthalocyanines have been synthesized through the asym. functionalization of an ABAB phthalocyanine, crosswise functionalized with two iodine atoms through Pd-​catalyzed cross-​coupling reactions with adequate electron-​donor and electron-​acceptor moieties. These push-​pull mols. have been optically and electrochem. characterized, and their ability to perform as chromophores for dye-​sensitized solar cells has been tested.