The synthesis and luminescenceproperties are reported for 20 different chelates composed of 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine as the energy-absorbing and donating group, EuIIIand TbIII as the emitting ions, methylenenitrilo(acetic acids) as the stabel chelate-forming moieties, and isothiocyanato or(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino groups as the activated moieties for coupling to biomolecules.