A new bis(beta-diketonate), 1,3-bis(4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3-dioxobutyl)phenyl (BTP), which contains a trifluorinated alkyl group, has been prepared for the synthesis of two series of dinuclear lanthanide complexes with the general formula Ln(2)(BTP)(3)L-2 [Ln(3+) = Eu3+, L = DME(1), bpy(2), and phen(3); Ln(3+) = Sm3+, L = DME(4), bpy(5), and phen(6); DME = ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline]. The crystal structure of the free ligand has been determined and shows a twisted arrangement of the two binding sites around the 1,3-phenylene spacer. X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals that complexes 1, 2, 4, and 5 are triple-stranded dinuclear structures formed by three bis-bidentate ligands with two lanthanide ions. The room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectra of complexes 1-6 show that this bis-beta-diketonate can effectively sensitize rare earths (Sm3+ and Eu3+) and produce characteristic emissions of the corresponding Eu3+ and Sm3+ ions. In addition, two bidentate nitrogen ancillary ligands, 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), have been employed to enhance the luminescence quantum yields and lifetimes of both series of Eu3+ and Sm3+ complexes.