Dioxetane compounds for the chemiluminescent detection of proteases, methods of use and kits therefore

A compound of the formula ##STR7## wherein X.sup.1, X.sup.2 and Y are independently hydrogen or an electron donating or withdrawing substituent, wherein R is an alkyl, straight-chain or branched chain of 1-20 carbon atoms or cycloalkyl or polycycloalkyl of 3-20 carbon atoms, and wherein Z is selected from the group consisting of Cbz-Val-Lys-Met-, Arg-, Ala-, Ala-Ala-Phe-, Glu-, Gly-Pro-Leu-, Gly-Pro-Met-, Leu-, Cbz-Arg-Arg-, Cbz-Phe-Arg-, Bz-Arg-, Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe, Cbz-Ala-Arg-Arg-, Gly-Phe-, Ala-Arg-, Bz-Arg-Gly-Leu-, Gly-Arg-, Bz-Arg-Gly-Phe-Phe-Pro-, Suc-Ala-Ala-Phe-, Suc-Phe-Leu-Phe-, Suc-Val-Pro-Phe-, MeOSuc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Met-, Ac-Ala-Ala-Ala, Suc-Ala-Ala-Ala-, Boc-Ala-Ala-Ala-, Suc-Ala-Ala-Val-, Suc-Ala-Pro-Ala-, Ac-Ala-Pro-Ala-, Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-, Ac-Ala-Ala-Pro-Ala-, Boc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Ala-, Glu-Ala-Ala-Pro-Leu-, Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Met-, MeOSuc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-, Boc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Val-. Suc-Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr-, Pro-Phe-Arg-, Cbz-Gly-, Cbz-Gly-Gly-Leu-, Cbz-Ala-Ala-Leu-, Boc-Gly-Gly-Leu-, Abz-Ala-Ala-Phe-Phe-, Cbz-Phe-Pro-Arg-, Cbz-Gly-Gly-Arg-, Bz-Val-Gly-Arg-, Boc-Val-Gly-Arg-, Glt-Gly-Arg-, Gly-Arg-, Cbz-Val-Gly-Arg-, wherein Abz is 2-aminobenzoyl, Ac is acetyl, Bz is benzoyl, Glt is glutaryl, Suc is succinyl, Cbz is carbobenzoxy, Abu is 2-aminobutyric acid and, pyr is pyroglutamic acid.