This review demonstrates the potential of generalised two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectroscopy in the near infrared (NIR) region. Three examples of generalised 2D NIR correlation analysis, which are all concerned with the temperature-dependent spectral variations of self-associated molecules, are discussed in this paper. The first example presents the 2D correlation approach to the analysis of a set of NIR spectra of oleyl alcohol in the pure liquid state under temperature changes. The 2D NIR analysis enhances the spectral resolution and simplifies the spectra with overlapped bands. For example, it was found that a band at 7090 cm−1, arising from the first overtone of an OH stretching mode of the monomeric alcohol, consists of two bands due to the rotational isomerism of the free OH group. The second example deals with the temperature-dependent NIR spectral changes of N-methylacetamide (NMA). The close-up view of 2D NIR correlation spectra of NMA, obtained at narrow spectral and temperature windows, enabled us to propose not only band assignments in the 6800–6050 cm−1 region, where the first overtones of stretching modes of free, free-end and hydrogen-bonded NH groups were expected to appear, but also a detailed mechanistic picture of the thermally-induced dissociation of NMA for each temperature range. A 2D NIR study of premelting behaviour and hydrogen bonds of Nylon 12 is discussed as the third example. The asynchronous 2D NIR correlation spectrum of Nylon 12 obtained from 30 to 150°C in the 6900–6100 cm−1 region indicated that the amide group with a free carbonyl oxygen appears first and then the unassociated free amide and amide with free NH follow as the temperature is increased. The asynchronous spectrum in the 6000–5500 cm−1 region, where the first overtones of the CH2 stretching modes are expected to appear, suggested that a substantial amount of disordered or dissociated components start appearing before the disappearance of more ordered components. It seemed that they appear as the premelting precursors (or even possibly as the indirect cause) to the precipitous decrease of the ordered components associated with the melting of Nylon 12 occurring at a much higher temperature.
