An improved synthesis of 2-(2'-benzothiazole)- and 2-(2'-benzoxazole)-8-hydroxyquinoline ligands that combine a tridentate N,N,O-chelating unit for metal binding and extended chromophore for light harvesting is developed. The 2-(2'-benzoxazole)-8-hydroxyquinoline ligands form mononuclear nine-coordinate complexes with neodymium, [Nd(kappa(3)-ligand)(3)], and an eight-coordinate complex with ytterbium, [Yb(kappa(3)-ligand)(2) x (kappa(1)-ligand) x H(2)O], as verified by crystallographic characterization of five complexes with four different ligands. The chemical stability of the complexes increases when the ligand contains 5,7-dihalo-8-hydroxyquinoline versus an 8-hydroxyquinoline group. The complexes feature a ligand-centered visible absorption band with a maximum at 508-527 nm and an intensity of (7.5-9.6) x 10(3) M(-1) x cm(-1). Upon excitation with UV and visible light within ligand absorption transitions, the complexes display characteristic lanthanide luminescence in the near-infrared at 850-1450 nm with quantum yields and lifetimes in the solid state at room temperature as high as 0.33% and 1.88 micros, respectively. The lanthanide luminescence in the complexes is enhanced upon halogenation of the 5,7-positions in the 8-hydroxyquinoline group and upon the addition of electron-donating substituents to the benzoxazole ring. Facile modification of chromophore units in 2-(2'-benzoxazole)-8-hydroxyquinoline ligands provides means for controlling the luminescence properties of their lanthanide complexes.