Hydrosoluble and solvatochromic naphthalene diimides with NIR absorption

Mimicking biochromophore anions containing phenolate moieties, eight conjugated naphthalene diimides (NDIs) have been synthesized in order to develop probes, displaying charge-transfer transitions affected by the nearby environment. NIR absorption of the resulting phenolates and their solvatochromic properties in both organic solvents and water are described.