A series of lanthanide complexes (Ln = Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd and Yb) with anionic 2-mercaptobenothiazolate (mbt) ligands were synthesized. Depending on the solvents chosen for the synthesis, Ln(mbt)3(THF)2 and Ln(mbt)3(Et2O) complexes were precipitated from THF and Et2O solutions respectively. The structure of Yb(mbt)3(Et2O) was determined by X-ray analysis. Photophysical properties of the complexes were studied. It was found that under photoexcitation Nd and Yb derivatives exhibit bright metal-centered luminescence in the NIR region while Sm(mbt)3(THF)2 demonstrates intensive visible emission corresponding to (4)G5/2 → (6)HJ (J = 5/2, 7/2, 9/2, 11/2) f-f transitions of Sm(3+) along with NIR emission of moderate intensity. In the case of europium compounds as well as Sm(mbt)3(Et2O) no luminescence was detected. It is assumed that the difference in photoluminescence of Yb and Eu complexes can be explained by an intramolecular electron transfer process, which efficiently proceeds in these compounds.