Four homochiral porous lanthanide phosphonates, [Ln(H2L)(3)]center dot 2H(2)O, (H3L = (S)-HO3PCH2-NHC4H7-CO2H, Ln = Tb (1), Dy (2), Eu (3), Gd (4)), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. These compounds are isostructural, and they possess a 3D supramolecular framework built up from 1D triple-strand helical chains. Each of the helical chain consists of phosphonate groups bridging adjacent Ln(III) ions. The helical chains are stacked through hydrogen bonds to form 1D tubular channels along the c axis. Moreover, helical water chains are located in the 1D channels, and after removal of these water chains, the compounds exhibit selective adsorption capacities for N-2, H2O, and CH3OH molecules. Compounds 1 and 3 show strong green and red fluorescent emissions, respectively, in the solid state at room temperature. Crystal data for 1: TbP3O17N3C18H37, tetragonal ( No. 76), space group P4(1), a = 12.4643(3) angstrom, b = 12.4643(3) angstrom, c = 18.7577(5) angstrom, V = 2914.17(13) angstrom(3), and Z = 4. For 2: DyP3O17N3C18H37, a = 12.4486(3) angstrom, b = 12.4486( 3) angstrom, c = 18.7626(5) angstrom, V = 2907.60(13) angstrom(3), and Z = 4. For 3, EuP3O17N3C18H37, a = 12.4799(3) angstrom, b = 12.4799(3) angstrom, c = 18.8239(5) angstrom, V = 2931.78(13) angstrom(3), and Z = 4. For 4: GdP3O17N3C18H37, a = 12.4877(18) angstrom, b = 12.4877(18) angstrom, c = 18.824(4) angstrom, V = 2935.5(8) angstrom(3), and Z = 4.