Transamination reactions occurring on 2,5-diaminobenzoquinonediimine (QDI) in presence of ethylenediamine yields fluorescent 1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[2,3-g]quinoxaline (1). When the same reaction is carried out with N,N'-bis(aminoethyl)-1,3propanediamine, a novel cationic quinoxalinium species (2) is isolated, which can be further condensed to a benzaldehyde derivative to afford a benzimidazolo-fused quinoxaline dye (3) that is a water-soluble fluorophore in the UV-visible range.