Abstract: Amyloid binding compounds which are non-azo derivatives of Chrysamine G, pharmaceutical compositions containing, and methods using such compounds to identify Alzheimer's brain in vivo and to diagnose other pathological conditions characterized by amyloidosis, such as Down's Syndrome are described. Pharmaceutical compositions containing non-azo derivatives of Chrysamine G and methods using such compositions to prevent cell degeneration and amyloid-induced toxicity in amyloidosis associated conditions are also described. Methods using non-azo Chrysamine G derivatives to stain or detect amyloid deposits in biopsy or post-mortem tissue are also described. Methods using non-azo Chrysamine G derivatives to quantify amyloid deposits in homogenates of biopsy and post-mortem tissue are also described.