Abstract: This invention relates to colorants comprising naphthalimide base groups with specific water-solubilizing pendant moieties attached. These pendant moieties are based upon aryloxypolyoxyalkylene groups which provide the desired solubility to the naphthalimide colorant compound. Furthermore, the aryloxypolyoxyalkylene groups facilitate the further addition of other pendant groups to the base compound which increase or decrease the solubility of the resultant naphthalimide derivative colorant as well. Such modified naphthalimides are useful as fluorescent colorants, particularly within other liquid media (both aqueous and non-aqueous) without the necessary inclusion of surfactants, solvents, diluents, and the like. Methods of making such colorants, as well as the aryloxypolyoxyallylene intermediates, are also contemplated within this invention.