This invention provides functional dyes of general formula (1) wherein R?1, R2, and R5¿ may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C¿1?-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxyl, hydroxyl, C1-C10 hydroxyalkyl, C1-C10 alkoxyalkyl, C1-C10 aryl, carboxyl, C1-C10 carboxylalkyl, halogen, nitro, C1-C10 alkoxycarbonyl, mercapto, C1-C10 mercaptoalkyl, C1-C10 alkylthio, sulfonate, and -(CH2)m-N(R?6)(R7¿) wherein R?6 and R7¿ are independently hydrogen or C¿1?-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 acyl, and R?6 and R7¿ are capable of forming 5, 6, or 7 membered rings which may optionally be substituted with -O-, -NR8, or -S-; R?3 and R4¿ may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of C¿1?-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 hydroxyalkyl, C1-C10 alkoxyalkyl, C1-C10 aryl, C1-C10 carboxylalkyl, C1-C10 alkyl sulfonate, mercapto alkyl and -(CH2)mN(R?6)(R7); W1 and W2¿ may be the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of -S-, -O-, -Se-, -Te-, -NR8 and C(R9)(R10); and m is about 0-10; R8 is hydrogen, C¿1?-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, C1-C10 mercaptoalkyl, hydroxyl, C1-C10 hydroxyalkyl, C1-C10 alkoxyalkyl, C1-C10 aryl, C1-C10 carboxylalkyl, C1-C10 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-C10 alkylthio, and -(CH2)m-N(R?6)(R7); R9 and R10¿ are independently hydrogen, C¿1?-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxyl, C1-C10 hydroxyalkyl, C1-C10 alkoxyalkyl, C1-C10 carboxyalkyl, C1-C10 alkoxycarbonyl, and -(CH2)m-N(R?6)(R7¿); and A is selected from the group consisting of -(CH¿2?)m, -C(R?9)(R10¿), -(CH¿2?)m-N(R?6)(R7¿), -O-, -S-, or -NR8.