In this study, firstly, 4-(2-(benzhydryloxy)phenoxy)phthalonitrile compound was synthesized. Then, a new 2, 10, 16, 24–tetrakis (2-(benzhydryloxy) phenoxy phthalocyaninato) zinc (II) complex was synthesized. The characterization of the obtained structure was investigated using spectroscopy techniques, including mass, nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared, electronic absorption spectroscopies. The nonlinear optical properties were investigated by virtue of femtosecond laser z-scan method. The aggregation–concentration relationship of zinc phthalocyanine compound, the photophysical and photochemical properties was dealt by UV–Vis spectroscopy and spectrofluorophotometer. In addition, the calculated values of the nonlinear absorption coefficient, β (~10–10 cm W–1), the nonlinear refraction index, n2 (~10–16 cm2 W–1) and third-order susceptibilities, χ(3) (~10–11 esu) for 2, 10, 16, 24–tetrakis (2-(benzhydryloxy) phenoxy phthalocyaninato) zinc (II) have been seen to be in line with literature.