Molecular specks capable of exhibiting strong luminescence are interesting from both a fundamental point of view and also because of their potential use for a variety of applications (photocatalysis, ChClllilumincscuIcc and 1-t labels in fluoroimmu noassay). Recently, conaidaabk efforta have been dedicated to the dcsigu and synthesis of lanthanides complexes in which an absorption-energy transfcremission (A-ET-E) process has ckarly been established. Among the numerous bipyridine-based macrobicyclicl , mact~~yclii~, and cage-M7 ligands it appeats that one of the most promising ccmpou& for the obtention of highly stable and strongly luminesc cnt lanthanides compkxes, contain four oligopyridine subunits (four bipy3 or two bipy and two phe&*) or two bipy subunits incorporated in a macmcyck and phosphiuate esters in the side-arm&' (bipy for 2.2'~bipyrkine and phen for 1.1O+enanthroline). To design a good ligaud and emitting system based on lanthanide one has to take at least three prerequisites into account: (i) lanthamdes ions must be shielded from the solvent; (ii) the ligand should not be sterically hindered in close proximity of the compkxation site and finally (iii) the ligand must have the lowest excited-state sufficient high in energy to insure energy transfer to the lanthanides. Recent msearch has demonstrated that amide substituted calix[4]arates can strongly akapsulated Et+ and Td+. lntemstingly, the latter complex exhibit a mma&&ly high lumi~ quantum yield.10 This and previous limlings from our laboratory, prompted us to investigate the synthesis of the novel podands L3 and 4 as well as new cryptands L5 and Le. 5,5'-substituted-2,2'-bipyridine precursors 1 and 2 were chosen as building blocks for the synthesis of the ligands presented in this communication.