Porous lanthanide coordination polymers, {[Ln(2)(atpt)(3)(H2O)(2)] 0.5(4,4'-bpy)(H2O)}(n) [Ln = Eu(1), Gd(2), Yb(3), H(2)atpt = 2-aminoterephthalic acid, 4,4'-bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine] were obtained by hydro-solvothermal reaction, in which 4,4'-bpy acts as template. For the first time the nitrogen atom of an atpt ligand coordinates to metal ions in 1-3. The photophysical properties and thermal stability of 1 were investigated. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.N. All rights reserved.