Two series of solid complexes of rare earth nitrates and picrates with the "back-to-back" terpyridine, 6,6"-bis(2-pyridyl)-2,2:4,4":2",2(")-quaterpyridine (L) have been synthesized. These complexes have been char acterized by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, thermal analysis and IR spectroscopy. At the same time, the luminescent properties of the Eu(Ⅲ) and Tb(Ⅲ) complexes were also studied.