Dyes and photoluminescent compounds based on polymethine dyes that contain at least one alkyl-phosphonate or substituted alkyl-phosphonate group, including the synthetic precursors, methods of synthesis, and applications thereof. Certain embodiments include heterocyclic ring systems and polymethine linkage are selected such that the resulting polymethine dye is a cyanine dye, a merocyanine dye, or a styryl dye.