A straightforward functionalization of BODIPY dyes via incorporation of a triazole moiety produced fluorescent dyes that were capable of distinguishing between secondary structure conformations of soluble oligomeric species of A beta 1-42 peptide. Small concentrations of the dyes, relative to A beta 1-42, provided up to an 8-fold and 35-fold fluorescence increase in the presence of the unordered and ordered, beta-sheet-rich conformations of soluble A beta 1-42 oligomers, respectively. These triazole-containing dyes could prove to be useful probes for monitoring amyloid conformational transitions in vitro. (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.