The synthesis of dyes based on a highly substituted terephthalic acid core is described, starting from readily available 2,5-dihydroxy-terephthalic acid diethyl ester. The dyes are highly colored, soluble in organic solvents and reasonably fluorescent in solution and in the solid state. The maxima for absorption and emission are around 402 and 502 nm, respectively. The fluorophores are readily cyclized to generate compounds which comprise the basic 6,13-dihydroxy-chromeno[2,3-b]xanthene-7,14-dione unit. These new derivatives are nonfluorescent.