Zn-II coordination by the tetraamine spacer of the two-component syste
m 1 brings the dimethylaniline fragment (donor) and the anthracene sub
unit (fluorophore) close enough to allow a photoinduced electron-trans
fer (PET) process to take place. Transition metals (e.g. Cu-II, Ni-II)
quench the fluorophore, preventing intramolecular PET.