Electron transfer luminescences have been found in a simple class of covalently linked, Cr-III-CN-Ru-II, transition metal complexes at 77 K in a DMSO/H2O glass. These emissions are broad, structureless and centered at about 850 nm. The emission lifetimes are on the order of 1 mu s, and increase 16-26-fold upon perdeuteration of coordinated am(m)ines. The properties of the electron-transfer excited states are consistent with an inverted region, spin forbidden emission process. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.