Phenyl hydrazinium complexes of Ce(III) and Nd(III) pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate hydrates have been synthesized and characterized by metal and elemental analyses, infrared spectra, thermal analyses, X-ray power diffraction, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns and infrared spectra of the complexes are super imposable indicating their structural similarity. The Ce III N 3 O 6 parts in the complex anion has a hexagonal nine-coordinate structure in which the nine coordinated atoms (three N and six O) from pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate ions are coordinated to the central rare earth metal ion directly. The Nd III N 3 O 6 part in the complex anion has the same structure as Ce III N 3 O 6 part. The crystal of the cerium complex belongs to the hexagonal crystal packing and p-3 space group. The crystal data are a D 16.4610 (6) A , b D 16.4610(6) A , c D 9.305(5) A , a D b D 90 and g D 120 , V D 2183.5(12) A 3 . The final R and Rw are 0.0287 and 0.0758 for reflection 2582 with [I> 2s (I)], respectively. The crystal of the neodymium complex is isostructural with the cerium complex and whose crystal data are a D 16.399 (2) A , b D 16.399(2) A , c D 9.3330(10) A , a D b D 90 and g D 120 , V D 2173.6(4) A 3 . The final R and Rw are 0.0253 and 0.0552 for reflection 2568 with [I> 2s (I)], respectively.