New vinylimidazolium salts, [9,10-bis{(N-vinylimidazolium)methyl} anthracene] bistetrafluoroborate (2) and [9,10-bis{(N-vinylimidazolium)methyl} anthracene] bishexafluorophosphate (3) have been prepared by the N alkylation of 9,10-bis(chloromethyl)anthracene with 1-vinylimidazole in 1,4-dioxane at 70 °C followed by the anion exchange reaction between [9,10-bis{(N- vinylimidazolium)methyl}anthracene] dichloride (1) and ammonium salt of tetrafluoroborate (for 2) or hexafluorophosphate (for 3). The interaction of tribromide anion with 1-3 has been studied with the help of 1H NMR and fluorescence spectra. Notably, the tribromide anion exhibits very strong fluorescent quenching effects towards 2 than 1 and 3. Similarly, 2 shows very strong fluorescent quenching effect in the presence of tribromide anion compare to bromide anion. Moreover the proton of imidazolium cation, NCHN in 2 undergoes considerable downfield shift in the presence of tribromide anion, while the vinyl group depicts strong upfield shift due to the possible interaction of tribromide with vinylimidazolium unit. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.