Acid acts as a "fuel" in driving kinetic self-assembly, with crystals of the Cu-II complex ([(CuCl2)-Cl-II(BH)(2)], BH = benzothiadiazole helicene derivative) being successfully converted to crystals of 1 ([H2BH][CuBr3]) and 2 ([H2BH][CuBr3<middle dot>2H(2)O]). The metastable features of 1 and 2 enable CuI guest release, with transformation into a thermodynamically favorable form 3 (H2BH<middle dot>2Br). Compound 1 exhibits dual phosphorescence at 452 nm ((MC)-M-3) and 709 nm ((CT)-C-3) at room temperature. At lower temperatures, the (CT)-C-3 band disappears and the (MC)-M-3 band weakens, while a new emission band at 621 nm ((3)pi pi*) is enhanced. In 1, the subtle structural change and significant emission change depending on temperature is reversible. In contrast, 2 exhibits only (MC)-M-3 emission at room temperature, with less efficient triplet-triplet energy transfer (TTET) below 250 K, and with residual (3)pi pi* emission occurring upon returning to room temperature, even after one week.