The　ferrocene-derivatives　bis(ferrocenyl-ethynyl)-1,10-phenanthroline　(Fc2phen)　and　ferrocenoyltrifluoroacetone　(Hfta)　have　been　used　to　synthesize　ferrocene-containing　rare-earth　β-diketonate　complexes.　The　complexes　[Ln(tta)3-(Fc2phen)]　and　[Ln(fta)　3(phen)]　(where　Ln　=　La,　Nd,　Eu,　Yb)　show　structural　similarities　to　the　tris(2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate)(1,10-phenanthroline)lanthanide(III)　complexes,　[Ln(tta)3(phen)].　The　coordination　number　of　the　lanthanide　ion　is　8,　and　the　coordination　sphere　can　be　described　as　a　distorted　dodecahedron.　However,　the　presence　of　the　ferrocene　moieties　shifts　the　ligand　absorption　bands　of　the　rare-earth　complexes　to　longer　wavelengths　so　that　the　complexes　can　be　excited　not　only　by　ultraviolet　radiation　but　also　by　visible　light　of　wavelengths　up　to　420　nm.　Red　photoluminescence　is　observed　for　the　europium(III)　complexes　and　near-infrared　photoluminescence　for　the　neodymium(III)　and　ytterbium(III)　complexes.　The　presence　of　the　ferrocene　groups　makes　the　rare-earth　complexes　hydrophobic　and　well-soluble　in　apolar　organic　solvents.　©　2007　American　Chemical　Society.