The isostructural series of lanthanide pyridine-3,5-dicarboxylates of the formula [Ln(2)pdc(3)(dmf)(2)]center dot(dmf)(x)(H2O)(y) where Ln are lanthanides from La(III) to Lu(III); pdc(2-) - C5H3N(COO)(2); dmf -N,N'-dimethylformamide have been prepared under solvothermal conditions. The X-ray analyses show that the complexes are three-dimensional frameworks possessing one-dimensional rhomboid channels occupied by disordered solvent molecules. Thermal behavior of the complexes has been investigated using the TG/DSC and TG/FTIR measurements. The luminescence properties of the Eu(III) and Tb(III) complexes have been studied. They show very strong characteristic emissions in the red and green regions, respectively. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.