The Ln(III) complexes (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm and Tb) of the tripodal ligand bis[(2-pyridyl)methyl][(1- methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl]amine (bpia) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X-ray structure determination as well as vibrational spectroscopy. The coordination spheres of the lanthanide cations are completed by three chelating nitrate anions yielding neutral complexes with a tenfold coordination of the metal ions. All four compounds are found to be isotypic, crystallizing in space group P1̄ (No. 2) with Z = 2. On comparing the IR-spectra of the new complexes to the spectra of the free ligands a shift to higher wave numbers is observed for corresponding bands in both, bpia and nitrate ligands.