Synthesis of 1,2-dioxetanes and intermediates therefor

A compound of the formula:

• ##STR48## wherein T is an adamantylidene group;
• R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 unbranched or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group wherein said substituent is a carboxylic acid-, sulfonic acid-, or quaternary amino group-;
• Y is an aromatic, light-emitting fluorophore forming chromophore group capable of generating an excited state species that emits optically detectable energy selected from the group consisting of phenylene and naphthylene;
• and
• M.sup.+ is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal cation, ammonium, and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.7 alkyl, aralkyl, or aromatic quaternary ammonium cation.

A compound of the formula:

• ##STR50## wherein T is an adamantylidene group;
• R and R.sup.4 are each independently a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 unbranched or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group wherein said substituent is a carboxylic acid-, sulfonic acid-, or quaternary amino group-;
• and
• Y is an aromatic, light-emitting fluorophore forming chromophore group capable of generating an excited state species that emits optically detectable energy selected from the group consisting of phenylene and naphthylene.

A compound of the formula ##STR52## wherein T is an adamantylidene group;

• R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 unbranched or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated alkyl group wherein said substituent is a carboxylic acid-, sulfonic acid-, or quaternary amino group-;
• Y is an aromatic, light-emitting fluorophore forming chromophore group capable of generating an excited state species that emits optically detectable energy selected from the group consisting of phenylene and naphthylene;
• and
• R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of cyano, nitrophenyl, dinitrophenyl, arylsulfonyl and alkylsulfonyl.