Solid complex of terbium nitrate with a new amide type tripodal ligand, 2,2',2''-nitrilotris- (N-phenylacetamide) (L) has been prepared. The X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis indicates that the complex [TbL₂(H₂O)]•(NO₃)₃(H₂O)₂(CH₃OH) conformed to a 1∶2 metal-to-ligand stoichiometry, which is the first example of 1∶2 coordination structure of lanthanide nitrate complexes with such ligand. The crystal structure belongs to monoclinic system with space group P21/c, a＝1.2870(7) nm, b＝1.6590(8) nm, c＝2.8723(12) nm, β＝115.364(2)°, V＝5.5415(5) nm³, Z＝4, R＝0.0399, wR＝0.0922. The coordination polyhedron around Tb is a distorted tricapped trigonal prism, and furthermore the ML₂ complex units are hydrogen bonded to yield infinite 3D supramolecular network. At room temperature, the complex solid exhibited characteristic emission under UV light excitation.

Key words: amide type tripodal ligand, terbium nitrate supramolecular complex, synthesis, crystal structure, luminescent property