The hydrothermal reaction of lanthanide chlorides and sodium salt of biphenyl-4,4'-diacetic acid (H(2)bpda) yielded a series of coordination polymers of the general formula Ln(2)(bpda)(3).nH(2)O (Ln = lanthanide ions(III) except for Pm(III), n = 3-7). Single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that complexes form three-dimensional coordination networks. Tetradentate biphenyl-4,4'-diacetate ligand coordinates Ln(III) through both bidentate-chelating carboxylate groups. Their thermal behaviours was investigated by the TG-DSC and TG-FTIR methods. The influence of atmosphere of heating on thermal stability of complexes was also examined. Magnetic studies of neodymium and praseodymium complexes showed weakly antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between lanthanide ions. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.