Highly selective HCO3- sensing is realized in a pH 8.6 aqueous solution on the basis of the HCO3--induced anomalous pyrene fluorescence of an association dimer that consists of pyrene-appended gamma-cyclodextrins having a triamine linker. The anomalous fluorescence that is produced by the HCO3--induced twisted conformation of the pyrene residues in the association dimer is insensitive to the presence of other anions.