Review: Phthalocyanines (Pc) and related macrocycles in combination with organic or inorganic macromolecules are reviewed. From the structural point of view, the macrocyclic compounds in macromolecular phases are subdivided into five types. Syntheses are described in detail, and characteristic experimental procedures are given. The properties of the materials are discussed: conductivity and photoconductivity, electrical charge/discharge, electrocatalytic reductions, photocatalytic reductions/oxidations of and at thin film electrodes, catalytic and photocatalytic oxidations, photoinduced electron transfer. Molecular sieves silicate MCM-41. Top: Structure of hexagonal pore with 2.4 mm diameter; bottom: Model for the incorporation of 1 (R = -O-(CH2)(3)-N+(CH3)3, M = Zn(II)) int he columnar orientated detergent cetyltrimethylammonium chloride surrounded by MCM-41 channels. [GRAPHICS]