ABSTRACT: In order to create near-infrared (NIR) luminescent lanthanide complexes suitable for DNA-interaction, novel lanthanide dppz complexes with general formula [Ln(NO3)3(dppz)2] (Ln = Nd3+, Er3+ and Yb3+; dppz = dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine) were synthesized, characterized and their luminescence properties were investigated. In addition, analogous compounds with other lanthanide ions (Ln = Ce3+, Pr3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Ho3+, Tm3+, Lu3+) were prepared. All complexes were characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the complexes (Ln = La3+, Ce3+, Pr3+, Nd3+, Eu3+, Er3+, Yb3+, Lu3+) showed that the lanthanide's first coordination sphere can be described as a bicapped dodecahedron, made up of two bidentate dppz ligands and three bi
