Eight complexes of rare earth with 2-mercaptobenthiazole, RELCl2*RE(OH)3*xH2O (L=2-mercaptobenthiazole, RE= La～Gd, Y, except for Pm,x=0, 2～4), were synthesized in unhydrous ethanol and characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra and thermal analyses. The results show that the ligand is coordinated to the RE ion through both the exocyclic sulfur and the thiazole nitrogen. The vulcanizing properties of the La complex as accelerator were studied in the traditional tire rubber, which indicate that the cross-linked rubber accelerated by the rare earth complex has good physical and dynamic mechanical properties by comparison.