An improved synthesis of the electron-rich N,N-chelating ligand, 2-(1-t-butyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine (L), has been developed by coupling t-butyl-azide with ethynylpyridine in the presence of a Cu(I) catalyst. L has been employed in the preparation of lanthanide coordination compounds having formulae [Ln(κ2-NO3)3L2] and [Eu(dbm)3L] (Ln = Eu, Tb; dbm = dibenzoylmethanate). The molecular structure of [Eu(dbm)3L] has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies. All the new complexes exhibit good photoluminescence properties and [Eu(dbm)3L] has been successfully used as the dopant for the preparation of luminescent plastic materials.