Cyanines derived from heptamethines were mainly discussed regarding their functionalization to broaden the solubility in different surroundings exhibiting either hydrophilic or hydrophobic properties and to tailor made the ΔG et photopysical properties with respect to absorption and fluorescence. Electrochemical properties were additionally considered for some selected examples. The cyanines chosen comprised as end groups either indolenine, benzo[e]- or benzo[cd]indolium pattern, which facilitated to shift the absorption between 750–1000 nm. This enabled their use in applications with light sources emitting in the near-infrared (NIR) region selected from high power LEDs or lasers with line-shaped focus. The absorbers considered were discussed regarding their function as sensitizer for applications related to Chemistry 4.0 standards. These were mainly photopolymer coatings, which can be found for applications in the graphic industry or to protect selected substrates. The huge release of heat on demand upon turning ON or OFF the NIR light source enables them for photothermal treatment in processes requesting heat to initiate either chemical (activated reactions) or physical (melting, evaporation) events.

The main motivation for the development of digital data storage has been the improvement in play-back quality and the increase in storage capacity. In 1982 Philips and Sony introduced the first technically and economically successful system based on this-the compact disc (CD) and a compatible player. A very broad diversity of optical data recording formats are available today, and a difference is drawn between prerecorded, recordable, and rewritable media. This Review gives an overview of the systems used, the main features of production, and then concentrates on the properties of the organic dyes that are used in recordable systems. Dyestuffs chemistry has gained the reputation of having become a mature field of activity. Is this prejudice or a justified swan song for dyestuffs chemistry? When applications in optical data storage are considered, it is evident that even today progresses such as CD-R and DVD/R would not be feasible without functional dyes.

Electronic absorption spectra of symmetrical cyanine dyes show vibronic sub-bands, attributed to the symmetric C-C valence vibration of the polymethine chain in the electronic excited state. Displacements in the equilibrium configuration between electronic ground and excited states of cyanine dyes lead to longer C-C bonds in the excited state. Additionally, in the electronic ground state, a small degree of bond localisation always remains in the chain depending on the different heterocyclic terminal groups. Our investigations suggest that we can use (3)J(H,H) coupling constants in the polymethine chain to characterise the bond localisation within the chain. Based on these values and the Franck-Condon principle, the intensity distribution among the vibrational sub-bands can be explained.

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This work critically examines attempts to model the fine structure apparent in electronic spectra of cyanine dyes and their analogues. Numerous computational studies reported over the past decade attribute the origin of sub‐bands and their relative intensities to vibronic transitions in which the relevant electronic transition is coupled, irrespective of symmetry, with a collection of vibrations. It is contended that this type of approach is not supported by experimental evidence. An argument is reiterated for a more appropriate model that adheres closely to fundamental principles and fits the data. It stipulates that essentially just one symmetric vibration, carbon–carbon bond stretching of the cyanine polymethine chain, dominates the coupling and is responsible for the observed fine structure. Furthermore, it is pointed out that the intensities of the sub‐bands are readily explained by means of the Franck–Condon principle.