The 1,3-bis(4-aminoaryl)squaraines showed color, change behavior, they were found to undergo reduction with sodium borohydride in solution to give colorless leuco compounds, which oxidized readily in air back to the colored squaraine dye. We have shown that initial observations indicated that the derivatives synthesized gave new donor-acceptor chromophores. It is also interesting to note than the oxidation of the leuco squaraines did initially produce a species absorbing about 630-680 wavelengths. The 1,3-squaraines have found many uses as near-infrared absorbers, laser dyes and photoconductive materials. Furthermore their color-change redox behavior has potential in the area of peroxidase-based bioassaysas oxidation sensitive indicator systems were investigated.