| abstract |
This invention is related to electrochemiluminescent labels useful in the detection of an analyte. One of these labels is a compound having the formula (A)k(B)u wherein A is a compound which can be induced to repeatedly omit electromagnetic radiation by direct exposure to an electrochemical energy source; B is a substance which is attached to A; and k and u are integers equal or greater than 1. A can be inorganic, organometallic or can be an organic compound, e.g. rubrene or 9,10-diphenyl anthracene. B can be a biological or nonbiological substance. The attachment between A and B may be by coordination to a metal atom present in A or to a ligand of A. Another label has the formula [M(P)m(L<1>)n(L<2>)o(L<3>)p(L<4>)q(L<5>)r(L<6>)s]t (B)u wherein M is ruthenium or osmium, P is a polydentate ligand of M, and the L's are ligands of M. At least one polydentate ligand must be present. B is a substance covalently bound to one or more of the ligands P and L through one ore more amide or amine linkages. |