Near infrared absorbing fluorescent compositions

A compound of Formula I:

• or a salt or a hydrate thereof,
• wherein R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted alkylaryl;
• substituted or unsubstituted alkylheteroaryl;
• wherein R″ and R′″ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen;
• halogen;
• alkyl, —OR1;
• —NR1R2;
• —NO2;
• —CF3;
• —CN;
• —C2R1;
• —SR1;
• —N3;
• C(═O)R1;
• —C(═O)OR1;
• —OC(═O)R1;
• —O(CR1R2)rC(═O)R1;
• —C(═O)NR1R2;
• —NR1C(═O)R2;
• —O(CR1R2)rNR2C(═O)R1;
• —O(CR1R2)rNR2SO2R1;
• —OC(═O)NR1R2;
• —NR1C(═O)OR2;
• —SO2R1;
• —SO2NR1R2;
• and —NR1SO2R2;
• wherein R1 and R2 are individually hydrogen;
• substituted or unsubstituted alkyl;
• substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl;
• substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl;
• substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl;
• substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclyl;
• substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted heterocycloalkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroaryl, substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, or substituted or unsubstituted alkylheteroaryl;
• and r is an integer from 1 to 6, and
• wherein the compound of Formula I has a wavelength of maximum absorbance, λmax, in the near infrared (NIR) region.