Synthesis, absorption and fluorescence properties of 3-methyl indole (1), N-(benzenesulfonyl)-3-(3-oxo-but-1-enyl)-indole (2) and 1H-3-(3-oxo-but-1-enyl)-indole (3) are described. Extended conjugation at C-3 of indole as in 3 causes moderate resolution of 1La and 1Lb bands. However, 2 having an electron-withdrawing group at indolic nitrogen shows only the 1La band. While the 1Lb band largely remains solvent polarity independent, the 1La band undergoes moderate red shift in polar solvents. The fluorescence in 2 and 3 originates from the Lb transition. Additionally, interaction of 2 and 3 with BSA indicates that these compounds bind to the hydrophobic site of BSA with the formation of a highly fluorescent BSA-probe complex.