There are two crystallographically independent molecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C22H17N3. In each molecule, the three pyridyl groups are nearly coplanar, whereas the tolyl groups are twisted out of the plane of the attached pyridyl rings by ca 28°. The molecular components are assembled through C—H...π and π–π interactions [centroid–centroid distances are 3.677 (4) and 3.707 (7) Å] into a one‐dimensional chain running in the a‐axis direction.

Key indicators: single-crystal X-ray study; T = 293 K; mean (C-C) = 0.009 Å; disorder in solvent or counterion; R factor = 0.060; wR factor = 0.204; data-toparameter ratio = 12.9.

In the title complex, {[Tb(C2O4)1.5(H2O)3]·CH3OH}n, each TbIII atom is coordinated by six O atoms from three oxalate ligands and three water molecules, and displays a tricapped–trigonal prismatic geometry. The oxalate groups link the metal ions, forming layers perpendicular to the c axis that can be described via topological analysis as a three‐connected (63) sheet. O—H...O hydrogen bonds from the water and methanol molecules to the oxalate ions further interconnect the layers, forming a supramolecular network.