A new Schiff base derived from tetraglycol aldehyde and phenylalanine and its rare earth complexes [Ln~3L~2(NO~3)~2]·(NO~3) ~3·nH~2O(Ln=La,Nd,Sm, n=3; Ln=Gd,Dy,Er,Y, n=5) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility, IR and ^1H NMR spectroscopy. The solubility of the obtained complexes in organic solvents has been explored and improved apparently. The crystal field strength and its parameters of the Gd(Ⅲ) complex were investigated by EPR spectroscopy. In addition, these complexes display some catalytic activities in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the absence of any cocatalyst.

Key words: SCHIFF BASE, LANTHANUM COMPLEX, NEODYMIUM COMPLEX, SAMARIUM COMPLEX, GADOLINIUM COMPLEX, DYSPROSIUM COMPLEX, ERBIUM COMPLEX, YTTRIUM COMPLEX, ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS, INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETRY