Novel PcCo(CN)L monomeric complexes were synthesized from [PcCoCN](n) compounds and bidentate axial ligands (L) such as ethylenediamine, 1,4-diaminebutane, 1,12-diaminedodecane and 2,6-diamineanthraquinone. These complexes were implemented to fabricate pellets and thin films by the vacuum thermal evaporation technique. The obtained compounds and deposited thin films were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques. Measurements of the electrical conductivity and the electrical current as a function of temperature were also carried out. IR-spectroscopy studies showed that the ligand attaches to the [PcCoCN](n) unit. The C=N vibrational band is found in the PcCo(et)CN and PcCo(bu)CN molecular solids, although it is displaced with respect to other reported values. Compounds PcCo(do)(2) and PcCo(an)(2) do not show C=N vibrational bands. This fact suggests a double bond between the ligand and the macrocycle and a coordination at the fifth and sixth position on the Co(III) atom. UV-vis spectra of the thin films exhibited higher conjugation degree for the CN-based samples. Electrical conductivity for the PcCo(an)(2) complex was consistently low for all temperature ranges under measurement, whereas the other synthesized compounds showed a semiconductor-like dependence of electric current with temperature. Additionally, cubic nonlinear optical (NLO) characterizations of the film samples were performed with the Z-Scan and third harmonic generation (THG) techniques, all samples exhibit outstandingly high nonlinear activity. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.