2âIminopyrroles [HtBuL, 4âtertâbutyl phenyl(pyrrolâ2âylmethylene)amine] are nonâfluorescent Ï systems. However, they display blue fluorescence after deprotonation with alkali metal bases in the solid state and in solution at room temperature. In the solid state, the alkali metal 2âimino pyrrolates, M(tBuL), aggregate to dimers, [M(tBuL)(NCR)]2 (M=Li, R=CH3, CH(CH3)CNH2), or polymers, [M(tBuL)]n (M=Na, K). In solution (solv=CH3CN, DMSO, THF, and toluene), solvated, uncharged monomeric species M(tBuL)(solv)m with N,NâČâchelated alkali metal ions are present. Due to the electronârich pyrrolate and the electronâpoor arylimino moiety, the M(tBuL) chromophore possesses a lowâenergy intraligand chargeâtransfer (ILCT) excited state. The chelated alkali cations rigidify the chromophore, restricting intramolecular motions (RIM) by the chelationâenhanced fluorescence (CHEF) effect in solution and, consequently, switchâon a blue fluorescence emission.