Smart alkyne and cyclooctyne probes activated by reactions with azides: linear alkynes include 7-alkynyl coumarin (20, R = methyl or alkoxymethyl) and alkyne-functionalized xanthene (21), 1,8-naphthalimide (22), benzothiazole (23), and benzoxadiazole (24), while cyclooctynes include coumBARAC (25) and Fl-DIBO (26). Spectroscopic properties correspond to representative triazole products derived from these alkyne probes.