Molecular design of near infrared polymethine dyes: A review

The recent advances in molecular design of polymethine dyes absorbing and emitting light in the near-infrared region are reviewed. In contrast to many publications, which concern mostly experimental results, our work describes mainly the theoretical approaches developed to connect the spectral characteristics with the chemical constitution of polymethine dyes. Considering such approaches, molecular design can be based on modern theoretical concepts. This enables the syntheses of new perspective dye molecules with specified spectral properties. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.