The reaction of curopium 8-quinolinolate Eu(OQ)(3) with calcium 8-quinolinolate, Ca(OQ)(2), in the flux 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene (TMB) at 210 degrees C yields thebimetallic [Eu2Ca(OQ)(8)], which is a linear tri-nuclear complex with two eight coordinate europium atoms flanking a six coordinate calcium atom bonded by six bridging phenolate oxygen atoms. A similar reaction between La(OQ)(3) and CO(OQ)(2) gave [LaCO2(OQ)(7)], in which two six coordinate cobalt atoms flank an eight coordinate lanthanum atom with six bridging phenolate oxygen atoms and a terminal OQ group. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.