The implementation of four bidentate building blocks into a high-denticity linker with a flexible spacer leads to a predisposed ligand that allows one to direct the self-assembly of 1D functional coordination polymers. This is illustrated by the assembly under mild conditions of the luminescent metal-organic framework [Tb(Htpabn)]center dot 14H(2)O(infinity) (1; H(4)tpabn = N,N,N',N'-tetrakis[(6-carboxypyridin-2-yl)methyl]butylenediamine). The X-ray crystal structure shows that the monoprotonated Htpabn binds two equivalent lanthanide ions to form a one-directional staircase chain. The high ligand denticity prevents solvent coordination and leads to a high luminescence quantum yield (Q = 39%), which is maintained after solvent removal.