The syntheses of peripherally substituted metal phthalocyanines (C8H17OCH2)8PcM with M = Co, Ni and Pb are described. The macrocycle (C8H17OCH2)8PcCo is reacted with sodium cyanide under oxidative conditions to give the cyano-bridged compound [(C8H17OCH2)8PcCoCN]n. All of the substituted metal phthalocyanines show liquid crystalline properties with phase transitions between 53.8°C and 94°C. Their liquid-crystal properties were demonstrated by DSC measurements and by polarization microscopy.