The synthesis and structure of two yttrium benzene dicarboxylates, 1∝{[Y2(C12N2H8)2(C8H4O4)3]·H2O}, I and 3∝{[Y2(C12N2H8)2(C8H4O4)3]}, II, with one- and three-dimensional structure has been accomplished employing hydrothermal methods in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline. While I is formed with phthalic aid (1,2-BDC), II is formed using isophthalic acid (1,3-BDC). Both the structures appear to have comparable building units, an eight-membered ring and a paddle-wheel arrangement, connected through the carboxylic acid. The 1,10-phenanthroline, connected to Y as a secondary ligand, occupies the inter-chain spaces in I, and projects into the channels in II. The channels in II are inter-connected. Photoluminescence studies indicate that both I and II exhibit a bathochromic shift with respect to the acids (1,2-BDC and 1,3-BDC) and a hypsochromic shift with respect to 1,10-phenanthroline. Both the compounds exhibit reasonable π⋯π interactions.