Infrared absorbing N-alkylsulfate cyanine compounds and imageable compositions containing the compounds are disclosed. The compounds have the structure I: in which: R is hydrogen, or R is one or more alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, alkoxy, carboxyl, nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl, acyl, alkyl sulfonyl, aryl sulfonyl, or halogen groups, or R is the atoms necessary to form a substituted or unsubstituted benzo group; A is (CH2)n; where n is 1–5; preferably 2–4; Y is O, S, NR′, or C(R′)2, where R′ is hydrogen or alkyl; preferably methyl; Z is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl; substituted or unsubstituted aroxyl, substituted or unsubstituted thioaroxyl, or substituted or unsubstituted diphenylamino; m is zero or one; and X is a cation, preferably sodium, potassium, lithium, ammonium, or substituted ammonium.