A new quaternary complex with 2,2-dihydroxymethyl propionic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline, Sm(CH3C(CH2OH)2COO)(NO3)2(phen), was synthesized in ethanol solution and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and solid-state 13C NMR. The result of molar electrolytic conductivity of the complex indicates that it is non-electrolyte. Solution and thermal properties of the complex further verifies that the complex and ligant are different. In addition, the analytical results also imply that the two hydroxyl groups of 2,2-dihydroxymethyl propionic acid are not involved in the coordinate reaction. This will provide a new way for producing new multifunctional polymer materials with excellent fluorescent property. The fluorescence spectra of the complex were also studied. The main fluorescence emission peak of the complex appeared at 555, 604 and 646 nm. These fluorescent emission peaks correspond to transitions from 4G5/2 to 6H5/2, 6H7/2 and 6H9/2 energy levels of samarium(Ⅲ) ion, respectively. The most intense peak is at 646 nm, which lies in the range of absorption wavelength of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b (600～680 nm), and it is beneficial to the crops to grow up.