Application of reduced dyes in imaging

1. A compound having Formula I:

wherein

each R 1 is an independently selected alkyl group that is additionally substituted with from 0 to 1 R 14 and from 0 to 1 -L-Y—Z; wherein the alkyl is optionally interrupted by at least one heteroatom or an ionic group;

R 1a is either hydrogen or deuterium;

each R 2a and R 2b is a member independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, aminoalkyl, amidoalkyl, alkylthioalkyl, carboxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, or sulfonatoalkyl; wherein a carbon of the member is additionally substituted with from 0 to 1 -L-Y—Z;

each R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is a member independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, amino, cyano, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, amido, sulfonato, alkoxyalkyl, carboxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, and sulfonatoalkyl; wherein a carbon of the member is additionally substituted with from 0 to 1 -L-Y—Z;

R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 and R 12 are each a member independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, alkoxy, sulfonato, hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, cyano, amido, thioacetyl, and -L-Y—Z; wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is halo;

each R 13 is a member independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, and alkoxycarbonyl;

each R 14 is a member independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, halo, hydroxyl, alkoxy, amino, amido, amidoalkyl, cyano, cyanoalkyl, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, amido, sulfonato, sulfonatoalkyl, thioacetyl, thioacetylalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, and alkoxyalkyl; wherein the alkyl or alkenyl is additionally substituted with from 0 to 1 R 13 and from 0 to 1 -L-Y—Z;

each L is an optional member independently selected from the group consisting of a bond, a C 1 -C 20 alkylene, and a C 1 -C 20 alkenylene; wherein the alkylene or alkenylene is optionally interrupted by at least one heteroatom;

each Y is an optional member independently selected from the group consisting of a bond, —O—, —S—, —NH—, —NHC(O)—, —C(O)NH—, —NR 15 —, —NR 15 C(O)—, —C(O)NR 15 —, —N(Z)—, —N(Z)C(O)—, and —C(O)N(Z)—;

each Z is independently selected from the group consisting of -L-R 13 and -L-R 16 ;

or alternatively, —Y—Z is a member selected from the group consisting of —N(Z 1 ) 2 , —N(Z 1 )C(O)Z 1 , and —C(O)N(Z 1 ) 2 , and the two Z 1 groups are linked to form a cycloalkynyl group;

each R 15 is a member independently selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkoxycarbonylalkyl; wherein the alkyl is optionally interrupted by at least one heteroatom;

each R 16 is independently a member selected from the group consisting of activated acyl, acrylamido, optionally substituted alkylsulfonate ester, azido, optionally substituted arylsulfonate ester, optionally substituted amino, aziridino, boronato, cycloalkynyl, cycloalkynylcarbonyl, diazo, formyl, glycidyl, halo, haloacetamidyl, haloalkyl, haloplatinato, halotriazino, hydrazinyl, imido ester, isocyanato, isothiocyanato, maleimidyl, mercapto, phosphoramidityl, a photoactivatable moiety, vinyl sulfonyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, spirocycloalkynyl, a pegylated azido, a pegylated alkynyl, a pegylated cycloalkynyl, a pegylated spirocycloalkynyl, an o-diarylphosphino aryl ester, and an ortho substituted phosphine oxide aryl ester; and

wherein said compound has a balanced charge.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein each R 16 is independently a member selected from the group consisting of activated acyl, acrylamido, optionally substituted alkylsulfonate ester, azido, optionally substituted arylsulfonate ester, amino, aziridino, boronato, diazo, formyl, glycidyl, halo, haloacetamidyl, haloalkyl, haloplatinato, halotriazino, hydrazinyl, imido ester, isocyanato, isothiocyanato, maleimidyl, mercapto, phosphoramidityl, a photoactivatable moiety, and vinyl sulfonyl.

3. The compound of claim 1 , wherein at least one R 16 is a member independently selected from the group consisting of azido, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, a pegylated azido, a pegylated alkynyl, a pegylated cycloalkynyl, and an o-diarylphosphino aryl ester.

4. The compound of claim 1 , wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is chloro or fluoro.

5. The compound of claim 4 , wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is fluoro.

6. The compound of claim 4 , wherein at least one member selected from the group consisting of R 8 , R 9 , and R 10 is chloro.

7. The compound of claim 1 , wherein each R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6 is a member independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, halo, alkoxy, cyano, carboxyl, alkoxycarbonyl, amido, sulfonato, alkoxyalkyl, carboxyalkyl, alkoxycarbonylalkyl, and sulfonatoalkyl.

8. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is (CH 2 ) r SO 3 H or (CH 2 ) r SO 3 − ; and

wherein r is an integer from 1 to 20.

9. The compound of claim 8 , wherein r is 2, 3, or 4.

10. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 2a and R 2b are methyl.

11. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 8 , R 9 , or R 10 is -L-Y—Z.

12. The compound of claim 1 , having the formula:

13. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the cycloalkynyl group is a member selected from the group consisting of cyclopentynyl, cyclohexynyl, cyclooctynyl, and dibenzocyclooctynyl (DBCO).