Abstract: Dioxetanes which couple with organic and biological molecules of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is a leaving group which is removed by an `activating agent to produce light, wherein A is a coupling substituent, Ar is a substituent selected from the group consisting of phenyl and naphthyl to provide a label are described. R.sub.1 is an optional linker substituent and can have between 1 and 30 carbon atoms with some of the carbon atoms being oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or phosphorus. Ar as phenyl is preferred. The dioxetane coupled molecules are useful in assays of all types where luminescence can be used as an indicator.

Abstract: Dioxetanes which couple with organic and biological molecules of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is a leaving group which is removed by an activating agent to produce light, wherein A is a coupling substituent, Ar is a substituent selected from the group consisting of phenyl and naphthyl to provide a label are described. R.sub.1 is an optional linker substituent and can have between 1 and 30 carbon atoms with some of the carbon atoms being oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or phosphorus. Ar as phenyl is preferred. The dioxetane coupled molecules are useful in assays of all types where luminescence can be used as an indicator.

Abstract: Dioxetanes which couple with organic and biological molecules of the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is a leaving group which is removed by an activating agent other than an enzyme which is removed by an activating agent to produce light, wherein A is a coupling substituent, Ar is a substituent selected from the group consisting of phenyl and naphthyl to provide a label are described. R.sub.1 is an optional linker substituent and can have between 1 and 30 carbon atoms with some of the carbon atoms being oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen or phosphorus. Ar as phenyl is preferred. The dioxetane coupled molecules are useful in assays of all types where luminescence can be used as an indicator.

Abstract: Method for analyzing a nucleic acid molecule, without fragmenting the molecule, by vaporizing a mixture of the molecule and a matrix by illuminating the mixture with visible laser light absorbed by the matrix and not by the nucleic acid molecule. The method is useful for determining the nucleotide sequence of a polynucleotide by using mass spectrometry to determine the molecular weights of individual single-stranded nucleic acid molecules in a population including a plurality of single-stranded nucleic acid molecules generated from the polynucleotide, each molecule having a different molecular weight, and one defined terminus and one variable terminus which terminates at a specific nucleotide.

Abstract: Described is a method and apparatus for analyzing an organic sample. In the preferred embodiment, this method and apparatus allows the determination of the base sequence of a nucleic acid by determining the molecular weights of the components of a biological sample. The method uses either a pre-existing chromophore or the covalent attachment of an ionizable chromophore to a biological sample followed by the vaporization of these molecules by exposure to an intense pulse of electromagnetic radiation in the presence of a matrix which strongly absorbs the radiation. The gaseous molecules are subsequently extracted into an evacuated ionization chamber and then exposed to electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength which specifically excites the chromophore covalently attached to the biological sample. The molecular weights of these ionized species are then determined by mass spectroscopic analysis. This method of molecular weight determination allows for a DNA sequencing method.