The complexes [Dy(NO3)(3)(Bipy)(2)], (HBipy)[Gd(NO3)(4)(Bipy)], and [Fe-III(Me(2)Bipy)(3)][La(NO3)(5)(H2O)]NO3 and the precursor of the latter, [(FePc2)-Pc-II(Me(2)Bipy)](CHCl3) center dot 1.5H(2)O (where Bipy is the 2,2'-bipyridyl, Me(2)Bipy is the 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl, and Pc- is the pyridine-2-carboxylate anion), were obtained and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Depending on the conditions of the synthesis and the reagents, the number of coordinated nitrate groups in the lanthanide complex increases from three to five: [Dy(NO3)(3)(Bipy)(2)], [Gd(NO3)(4)(Bipy)](-), and [La(NO3)(5)(H2O)](2-).