New luminescent thermally stable lanthanide-organic complexes, namely europium tris(4-methoxy benzoylbenzoate),Eu(MeOBB)3, and terbium tris(4-methoxy benzoylbenzoate),Tb(MeOBB)3, were synthesized and characterized. The UV absorption bands in these compounds are attributed to the ligand while the emission originates from the lanthanide ions’ electronic transitions. The quantum efficiency of photoluminescence, &Fgr;, measured in5×10−4M methylene chloride solutions is relatively large in both compounds: &Fgr;=0.27 forTb(MeOBB)3and &Fgr;=0.16 forEu(MeOBB)3. The narrow-band electroluminescence from these complexes is studied by fabricating and characterizing single- and multi-layer organic light emitting diodes. Energy transfer between the organic components of these devices is also discussed. ©1997 American Institute of Physics.