Two series of novel rare earth complexes with dicyanamide [Ln(dca)2(phen)2(H2O)3][dca].(phen), (Ln = Pr, Gd, and Sm) and [Ln(dca)3(2,2'-bipy)2(H2O)]n, (Ln = Gd, Sm, and La): syntheses, crystal structures, and magnetic properties.