This invention provides dye phosphoramidites, particularly
phosphoramidites of substituted cyclic bridged cyanine and related dyes,
of the general formula: ##STR00001## In this formula, each dotted line
represents carbon atoms necessary to form a fused substituted or
unsubstituted aromatic ring; m is an integer from 1 to 18; Y and Z are
independently selected from the group consisting of S, O, N, CH.sub.2 and
C(CH.sub.3).sub.2; R.sub.1 is an alkyl; (PAM) is a phosphoramidite group;
X.sup.{circle around (-)} is a negative ion; and Q is L-W, wherein L is a
conjugated cyclic moiety and W is OR.sub.2, wherein R.sub.2 is a second
alkyl. Methods of making and using the dye phosphoramidites are also
provided.