The lanthanide and Th4+ complexes with calix[4]arene ligands substituted either on the narrow or at the wide rim by four coordinating groups behave totally differently as shown by an NMR investigation of the dia- and paramagnetic complexes. Solutions of complexes were prepared by reacting anhydrous metal perchlorate salts with the ligands in dry acetonitrile (CAUTION). Relaxation time T-1 titrations of acetonitrile solutions of Gd3+ by calixarenes indicate that ligands substituted on the narrow rim form stable 1:1 complexes whether they feature four amide groups (1) or four phosphine oxide functions. In contrast, a ligand substituted by four (carbamoylmethyl)diphenylphosphine oxide moieties on the wide rim (3) and its derivatives form polymeric species even at a 1:1 ligand/metal concentration ratio. Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion (NMRD) curves (relaxation rates 1/T-1 vs magnetic field strength) of Gd3+, Gd3+.1 and Gd3+.3 perchlorates in acetonitrile are analyzed by an extended version of the Solomon-Bloembergen-Morgan equations. A comparison of the calculated rotational correlation times tau(r) shows that ligand 3 forms oligomeric Gd3+ species. The chelates of ligand 1 are axially symmetric (C-4 symmetry), and the paramagnetic shifts induced by the Yb3+ ion are accounted for quantitatively. The addition of water or of nitrate ions does not modify the geometry of the complex. The metal chelates of 3 and its derivatives adopt a C-2 symmetry, and the paramagnetic shifts are interpreted on a semiquantitative basis only. Water and NO3- ions completely labilize the complexes of the heavy lanthanides. The very high selectivity of ligand 3 through the lanthanide series stems from a complex interplay of factors.