Some 2:1 nickel complex infrared absorbing dyes were synthesized by the reaction of phenylenediamines, 2-aminobenzenethiols and 2-aminobenzeneselenols with nickel(II) chloride. These dyes generally absorbed infrared light over 860 nm, but those from phenylenediamines absorbed at 780-800 nm, which is the most favorable wavelength region for semiconductor laser optical recording dye medium. Introduction of alkyl and/or amino groups into the parent dye greatly improved the solubility in organic solvent and these dyes could be applied by the wet coating method to prepare dye medium.