Prepolymers containing vanadyl phthalocyanines, prepared by the reaction of amino-substituted vanadyl phthalocyanines and diglycidyl ether of biphenol A, can be cured to give transparent network polymeric films, which show absorptions at 780 nm and 820 nm, respectively. The films are stable to organic solvents, inorganic bases and acids. Ultrafast optical responses were observed for both polymers with typical decay time of about 240 fs. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.