Controlling the energy-transfer direction: an oligophenylenevinylene-phenanthroline dyad acting as a proton triggered molecular switch

In a two-component system combining an oligophenylenevinylene (OPV) group with a protonable phenanthroline unit, the direction of intercomponent photoinduced energy transfer can be tuned by proton input, thus allowing on/off switching of the luminescence of the OPV moiety.