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 H-1 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. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.