A dipicolinate (dpa)-based platform for the rapid testing of potential lanthanide-sensitizing antennae was developed; 4-methyl-7-O-alkylcoumarin-appended dpa could sensitize four lanthanides. The platform could be used to estimate the photophysical properties of a more difficult-to-prepare 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid based structure carrying the same antenna.