The reaction of LnCl 3 ·7H 2 O [Ln = La (1), Ce (2)] with salicylic acid (HL) and 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen) at 20 o C in H 2 O/ethanol gave after work-up and recrystallization two novel lanthanide complexes with general formula [Ln(Phen) 2 (L) 3 (HL)]·H 2 O. Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, TGA, CHN as well as by X-ray analysis. According to these results, compounds 1 and 2 are isostructural and contain Ln 3+ ions with coordination number nine. Complexes 1 and 2 consist of two Phen, one neutral HL and three L anions (two L anions act as monodentate ligands and the third one is chelating to Ln
3+). Thermal decomposition led to primary loss of the Phen molecules. Then HL molecules and finally L moieties left the material to give Ln 2 O 3.