Proton-controllable fluorescent switch based on interconversion of polynuclear and dinuclear copper(II) complexes

The first reversible interconversion process between a one-strand polymeric copper(II) complex {Cu2(L1)2(ClO4)2](ClO4)2}n (1) and a dicopper(II) helicate Cu2(L1-2H)2] (2), proceeding via a deprotonation-protonation process, can transduce fluorescence and function as a fluorescent switch simply by introducing a one fiftieth equivalent of coumarine 343 anion, a fluorophore.