Patent ID: 6852548

Claim:
A 1,2-dioxetane compound capable of producing light energy when decomposed, represented by the formula: wherein T is: and wherein R may independently be any branched alkyl or cycloalkyl group which provides stabilization for the dioxetane or where both R groups together form a cycloalkyl or polycycloalkyl moiety spiro bound to the dioxetane ring, wherein each R group or the spiro bound moiety may be unsubstituted or substituted with one or more electron-withdrawing groups or electron donating groups, and wherein R 1 is an aryl group, or an alkyl group of 1-20 carbon atoms, which may be optionally substituted with 1 or more halogen atoms, and wherein Y may be H, or an electron donating or withdrawing group, or an organic linker group which may be attached to (1) an ancillary fluorophore, or (2) any biological moiety, and wherein X may be any protecting group which is removed by non-enzymatic chemical or enzymatic means.