Reactions of 2-(pyridine-3-yl)-1H-4,5-imidazoledicarboxylic acid (H3PyIDC) with a series of Ln(III) ions affords ten coordination polymers, namely, {[Ln(H2PyIDC)(HPyIDC)(H2O)(2)]center dot H2O}(n) [Ln = Nd (1), Sm (2), Eu (3) and Gd (4)], {[Ln(HPyIDC)(H2O)(3)]center dot(H2PyIDC)center dot H2O} [Ln=Gd (5), Tb (6), Dy (7), Ho (8) and Er (9)], and {[Y-2(HPyIDC)(2)(H2O)(5)]center dot(bpy)center dot(NO3)(2)center dot 3H(2)O}(n) (10) (bpy=4,4'-bipyridine). They exhibit three types of networks: complexes 1-4 are isomorphous coordination networks containing neutral 2D metal-organic layers, while complexes 5-9 are isomorphous, which consist of cationic metal-organic layers and anionic organic layers, and complex 10 is a 2D network built up from 4-connected HPyIDC2- anion and 4-connected Y(III) ions. In addition, thermogravimetric analyses and solid-state luminescent properties of the selected complexes are investigated. They exhibit intense, characteristic emissions in the visible region at room temperature. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.