Two new hetero-trinuclear 3d-4f complexes [Zn 2 (L)Ho(µ 2-OAc) 2 (OAc)(MeOH)]•CH 2 Cl 2 (1) and [Zn 2 (L)Er(µ 2-OAc) 2 ]OAc (2), derived from a bis(salamo)-based ligand H 4 L, were synthesized and characterized via elemental analyses, IR, UV-Vis, fluorescence spectra and X-ray crystallography. The X-ray crystal structure analyses demonstrated that two µ 2-acetateanions bridge the Zn II and Ln III (Ln = Ho (1) and Er (2)) atoms in a µ 2-fashion forming similar hetero-trinuclear structures, respectively. In complex 1, one methanol molecule as coordinating solvent participates in the coordination, the two Zn II atoms are six-and five-coordinated and have geometries of slightly distorted tetragonal pyramid and octahedron, and the Ho III atom is nine-coordinated and has the geometry of a mono-capped square antiprism. In complex 2, the two Zn II atoms both possess five-coordinated tetragonal pyramid geometries, and the Er III atom is eight-coordinated with a square antiprism geometry. Furthermore, the fluorescence properties of complexes 1 and 2 were determined.