This invention relates to a luminescent lanthanide chelate comprising a lanthanide ion and a chelating ligand of formula (I) ##STR1##

wherein R₁ is selected from the group consisting H, —COOH, —COO^-, —CH₂COOH and —CH₂COO^-; G₁ is a group consisting of one or two moieties each moiety being selected from the group consisting of ethynediyl, ethenylene, phenylene, biphenylene, naphthylene, pyridylene, pyrazinylene, pyrimidinylene, pyridazinylene, furylene, thienylene, pyrrolylene, imidazolylene, pyrazolylene, thiazolylene, isothiazolylene, oxazolylene, isoxazolylene, fyrazanylene, 1,2,4-triazol-3,5-ylene and oxadiazolylene; G₂ for coupling to a biospecific binding reactant is selected from the group consisting of amino, aminooxy, carbonyl, aldehyde or mercapto groups and activated forms made of them; Z is selected from the group consisting of carboxyalkyl amine, ether, thioether, carbonyl and unsubstituted or substitute methyl (—CR₂—) wherein group R₂ is selected from the group consisting of H, methyl, ethyl and carboxylalkyl; and the lanthanide ion is europium(III), terbium(III), dysprosiym(III) or samarium(III). This invention further relates to a detectable molecule comprising the lanthanide chelate and the use of the molecule in a method of carrying out a biospecific binding assay.