QUATERRYLENEBIS(DICARBOXIMIDE)S - NEAR-INFRARED ABSORBING AND EMITTING DYES

New ladder-type chromophores, the quaterrylenebis (dicarboxdiimide)s 2 , 18 and 23, have been synthesised which, despite their extended pi-sy stem, exhibit good solubility in organic solvents and film forming pro perties when adequately substituted. These unprecedented dyes, which a bsorb and even emit light in the NIR window, are also characterized by oustanding chemical, thermal and photochemical stability with regard to their absorption range. The potential formation of J-aggregates in strongly acidic media has been investigated and has been ruled out by combined H-1 NMR and UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy experiments. In addition, their photophysical and electrochemical characteristics have been exp lored and are discussed.