Kinetic studies of photochemical reactions induced by UV radiation in solutions of metal phthalocyanines have been carried out to determine the factors which might have influenced the stability of photosensitized phthalocyanines. Complexes of the molecular type Mpc, M'(2)pc, and Lnpc(2) (where M = Li, Mg, Fe, Co, Zn, Pb; M'= Tl; Ln = rare earth; pc = phthalocyanine ligand, C(32)H(16)N(8)(2-)) were investigated in DMF, DMSO, and pyridine. Progressive decay of the phthalocyanine macrocycle due to absorption of UV light was observed. Phthalimide found in the final photolysis product may indicate some chemically bonded oxygen involved in the solid phthalocyanine material. Fluorescence lifetimes determined for the studied compounds (2.91-5.98 ns) have shown no particular relation to the stability of the excited macrocyclic system. The bonding strength of the photosensitized phthalocyanine moiety appears to rely on typical chemical factors, rather than on the properties of the excited states. Kinetics of the degradation process has proved to depend on the molecular structure of the complex and seems to be controlled by interactions of the macrocycle bridging nitrogen atoms with the solvent molecules. The use of electron acceptor solvents such as DMSO may enhance the molecular stability of phthalocyanines excited by UV radiation. Sandwich-type rare earth diphthalocyanines dissolved in DMSO displayed the highest photostability.