The imidazole group of histidine deprotonates and bridges the two CuII centers of a dimetallic polyamine macrocyclic complex, displacing the previously bound and quenched fluorescent indicator I. Thus, histidine recognition is signaled by the revival of the fluorescence of I. Selectivity with respect to other natural amino acids is achieved by choosing an indicator of tuned affinity toward the dicopper(II) receptor.

The NO(2)(-) ion, in the trans-octahedral [Ni(II)(N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine)(2)(NO(2))(2)](H(2)O) complex, coordinates the metal through the nitrogen atom (nitro form). On heating the solid complex, the anion rotates to give nitrito coordination (oxygen bound), according to a reversible process. The coordination mode of NO(2)(-) to Ni(II) is related to the steric interplay between the anion and the alkyl substituents on the diamine.