Abstract Complexes, [LnL1(H2O)2] (ClO4)3·4H2O, where L1 is 2,5,11,14-tetramethyl-3,4,12,13,19,20-hexaazatricyclol[13.3.1.1.6,10] eicosa-1(19),2,4,6,8,10(20),11,13,15,17-decaene and Ln is Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb or Lu, have been prepared by the condensation of 2,6-diacetylpyridine with hydrazine in the presence of metal-ion templates and characterized by spectral data, thermal and elemental analysis. They are proposed to have six-coordinate and octahedral geometry with four nitrogen donor atoms occupying the equatorial plane and two water molecules in the axial positions. In contrast, analogous reactions involving the lighter lanthanides yield ring-opened complexes [LnL22] (ClO4)3·2H2O, where L2 is (6-acetyl-pyrid-2-yl)methyl ketone azine, Ln is La, Pr, Nd or Sm and [LnL2(H2O)2] (ClO4)3·2H2O, where Ln is Eu or Gd. In addition to the above major products small amounts of lanthanide complexes of 2,6-diacetylpyridine (L3) have been isolated from the reaction and identified by spectral, thermal, and elemental analysis. These complexes are formulated as [LnL34](ClO4)3·2H2O, where Ln is La, Pr, Nd or Sm, [LnL33(H2O)](ClO4)3·2H2O, where Ln is Eu or Gd, and [LnL33](ClO4)3·3H2O, where Ln is Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb or Lu. Treatment of [LnL1(H2O)2](ClO4)3·4H2O with water yields complexes of the ring-opened ligand L2 of general formula [LnL2(H2O)2](ClO4)3·2H2O, where Ln is Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb or Lu.