Triethynylmethane: a molecular unit inducing excimer-like emission in aggregated states of hydrocarbon fluorophores

We report the synthesis of triethynylmethane (TEM) derivatives substituted with fluorescent aromatic hydrocarbons and the fluorescence properties in dilute aqueous solution and in spin-coated film. Pyrene-tethered TEM derivatives showed excimer-like fluorescence in 80% water in THF and spin-coated film. UV and 1H NMR analyses showed the aggregation of TEM derivatives. Phenanthrene-tethered TEM also showed excimer-like fluorescence in high water content in THF. These data showed that TEM is a novel molecular unit inducing excimer-like emission in the aggregated states of aromatic hydrocarbon fluorophores.