Novel dibenzoylresorcinol-based compounds are disclosed wherein the dibenzoylresorcinol is bonded to the residue of either an alcohol or a carboxylic acid group, via a methylene carboxylate linking group; and wherein the dibenzoylresorcinol is bonded directly to a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group which does not include a pendent hydroxyl group. The groups attached to the dibenzoylresorcinol may contain a wide variety of functional sites which permit further reaction, e.g., copolymerization. The described compounds are very useful as UV light absorbers and may be used to form improved coating compositions which usually include a transparent, polymeric matrix material. The coating compositions may be applied to various substrates, e.g., thermoplastics, to afford a selection of enhanced properties, such as UV light resistance and abrasion resistance.