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 $^1L_a$ and $^1L_b$ bands. However, 2 having an electron-withdrawing group at indolic nitrogen shows only the $^1L_a$ band. While the $^1L_b$ band largely remains solvent polarity independent, the $^1L_a$ band undergoes moderate red shift in polar solvents. The fluorescence in 2 and 3 originates from the $L_b$ 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.