Two hybrid organic− inorganic switches were prepared by linking prototypical ruthenium or rhenium luminophores to the 2-(anthracen-9-yl)-4-methylphenol unit as a switchable photoactive moiety. Emission of the inorganic luminophore was reversibly switched ON and OFF multiple times by adjusting the energetic level of the 3π− π* state of the appended anthracene unit through either dearomatization using a photohydration or rearomatization ...