The synthesis of 5,6-dicyano-1H-1,2,3-benzotriazole (2) was significantly simplified and its overall yield was increased. This opens up the possibility for an extended use of 2 as a precursor for triazole-functionalized phthalocyanines. One of them, the unsymmetrical {9, 10,16,17,23,24-hexakis(3,5-ditert-butylphenoxy) [1,2,3]triazolo [4,5-b]phthalocyaninato}-zinc (5) was prepared in a statistical condensation of 2 and 4,5-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenoxy)phthalonitrile (3) with subsequent separation by column chromatography. The triazolefunctionalized (phthalocyanine)zinc complex 5 shows inter-