New series of novel heterometallic fluorinated beta-diketonato/alkoxo complexes have been synthesized in quantitative yields and characterized by analytical data, FT-IR, NMR and mass spectroscopy. Their thermal behavior was investigated by TGA. The plausible structure of beta-diketonato/alkoxo complexes was suggested from the physico-chemical analysis. These complexes have been studied as potential precursors for planar optical amplifiers through the investigation of optical properties and a homogenous thin film spin coating. The volatility of these complexes was reduced by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The assembling of fluorinated beta-diketonato/alkoxo ligands ensures high coordination numbers for coordinated metals and improves their stability in ambient atmosphere. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved