Abstract: The bathochromic shift of the near-infrared absorption spectra of naphthoquinone methide dyes has been observed as a function of increased steric hindrance between the quinone imine and aniline segments. This novel shift that results from the loss of planarity has been examined by means of semiempirical INDO/S and AMI models. Based on the configuration interaction (CI) analysis, the observed transitions in both the near-infrared ...
