Abstract: A class of fluorescent rare earth chelates and the ligands upon which they are based whose molecular structure incorporates a plurality of substituted arylpyridine diacid units attached to a central template structure is disclosed. These ligands function as efficient energy transfer groups in fluorescent tagging reagents and tracers.

Abstract: A class of fluorescent rare earth chelates and the ligands upon which they are based whose molecular structure incorporates a plurality of substituted arylpyridine diacid units attached to a central template structure is disclosed. These ligands function as efficient energy transfer groups in fluorescent tagging reagents and tracers.

Abstract: A class of fluorescent rare earth chelates and the ligands upon which they are based whose molecular structure incorporates a plurality of substituted arylpyridine diacid units attached to a central template structure is disclosed. These ligands function as efficient energy transfer groups in fluorescent tagging reagents and tracers.

Abstract: A class of fluorescent rare earth chelates and the ligands upon which they are based whose molecular structure incorporates a plurality of substituted arylpyridine diacid units attached to a central template structure is disclosed. These ligands function as efficient energy transfer groups in fluorescent tagging reagents and tracers.

Abstract: A class of fluorescent rare earth chelates and the ligands upon which they are based whose molecular structure incorporates a plurality of substituted arylpyridine diacid units attached to a central template structure is disclosed. These ligands function as efficient energy transfer groups in fluorescent tagging reagents and tracers.

Abstract: A new reporter mechanism for biospecific reactions is disclosed. This mechanism involves interligand metal ion transfer in which a metal ion is directly transferred from one chelate complex to another following the occurance of the biospecific reaction. The second chelate complex is separate from and detectably different than the first chelate complex. This invention can take the form of methods of chemical analysis and kits for conducting such methods. In preferred embodiments of this invention the detectable difference is a difference in fluorescence, such as an increase or decrease which occurs as a result of the formation of the second chelate. In further preferred embodiments the difference in fluorescence is detected using fluorescent background rejection methods.

Abstract: It is disclosed that aryl-substituted 2,6-bis[N,N-di(carboxyalkyl)aminoalkyl] pyridines in which the aryl groups are substituted with one or more electron-releasing groups are an advantageous ligand for forming fluorescent chelates with rare earth metals. The pyridine moieties can be linked to target molecules, especially biologically active target molecules to provide fluorescent tagging for use in fluoroassay techniques. The pyridine moieties are disclosed as tetraacids, as salts and as esters. Preparation processes and precursors including the corresponding aryl-substituted 2,6-dicarboxypyridines as acids, salts and esters, are disclosed as well.