A biologically active fluorescent compound, (-)-7-(2- N - dansylaminoethyl)indolactam V( 13 ), was synthesized from (-)-indolactam V ( 1 ) in 6 steps together with an inactive fluorescent derivative, (-)-7-(2- N -dansylaminoethyl)-14- O -methylindolactam V ( 20 ). (-)-Indolactam V ( 1 ) exists as two stable conformers in solution at room temperature. The effect of substituents and substitution positions of the indole ring on these two conformational states of (-)-indolactam V ( 1 ) were discussed in detail.