Cyanines are a well-known class of organic, near-infrared fluorophores, however, their photoexcited dynamics are not well understood. In this study, the authors investigated the photochemical behavior of a prototypical heptamethine cyanine derivative using transient Raman spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations, observing ultrafast electron transfer between the excited cyanine and oxygen and identifying key intermediates and products, including the excited states and photoisomers.
- Gabriel Glotz
- Jan Polena
- Petr Klán
