A novel organic ligand, 6-[(benzylamino) carbonyl]-2-pyridine carboxylic acid (HBAP), and the corresponding lanthanide complexes, tris(6-[(benzylamino) carbonyl]- 2-pyridine carboxylato) lanthanide(III) (Ln-BAP, Ln = Eu, Tb, Gd), have been designed and synthesized. The lanthanide (Eu(III), Tb(III)) complexes were efficiently sensitized by BAP ligand. The fluorescence quantum yields were investigated by comparison with a luminescence standard, and the yields were 15 +/- 3%, 34 +/- 3% for the solid europium. and terbium complexes respectively. The lowest triplet level of HBAP ligand was calculated from the phosphorescence spectrum of Gd-BAP complex, and the energy transfer mechanisms in the lanthanide complexes were discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.