A new terbium(III) complex Tb-2(C15H11O3)(6)(2,2'-bipy)(2) has been synthesized with 2-(4-methylbenzoyl)benzoic acid and 2,2'-bipy ligands. Crystal data for the complex: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 14.9738(5), b = 13.5469(4), c = 23.0683(7) angstrom, beta= 103.950(3)degrees, V= 4541.4(3) angstrom(3) , D-c = 1.511 g/cm(3), Z = 2,mu(MoK alpha) = 1.620 mm(-1), F(000) = 2088, the final R= 0.0318 and wR = 0.0727. The Tb(III) ion is coordinated by eight atoms to give a distorted square antiprism coordination geometry. The complex shows three fluorescence emission bands arising from the tran...