A terrylenedicarboximide-anthraquinone dyad, FTQ, with absorption in the second near-infrared region (NIR-II) is obtained as a high-performance chromophore for photothermal therapy (PTT). The synthetic route proceeds by C-N coupling of amino-substituted terrylenedicarboximide (TMI) and 1,4-dichloroanthraquinone followed by alkaline-promoted dehydrocyclization. FTQ with extended π-conjugation exhibits an optical absorption band peaking at 1140 nm and extending into the 1500 nm range. Moreover, as determined by dielectric spectroscopy in dilute solutions, FTQ achieves an ultrastrong dipole moment of 14.4 ± 0.4 Debye due to intense intramolecular charge transfer. After encapsulation in a biodegradable polyethylene glycol (DSPE-mPEG2000), FTQ nanoparticles (NPs) deliver a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 49% under 1064 nm laser irradiation combined with excellent biocompatibility, photostability, and photoacoustic imaging capability. In vitro and in vivo studies reveal the great potential of FTQ NPs in photoacoustic-imaging-guided photothermal therapy for orthotopic liver cancer treatment in the NIR-II window.

Spiro‐fused π‐systems have gained considerable attention for their application as semiconductors in molecular electronics. Here, a synopsis regarding recent breakthroughs in ladderized spirobifluorenes and indeno‐spirobifluorenes, along with further spiro‐condensed heteroatomic hydrocarbons with donor‐acceptor moieties, is provided. Additionally, an extended range of rigid spirobifluorene polymers and specific doubly linked spiro‐systems with partial chiral character is discussed. The diverse applications of the aforementioned structures are thoroughly evaluated.

Revisiting the history: towards the better understanding of open shell singlet biradicaloids.