A novel helical copper complex: catena-poly[[[aquacopper(II)]-micro-N-(3-carboxy-2-oxidobenzylidene-kappaO2)glycinato-kappa3N,O':O'] monohydrate].

In the polymeric title compound, [[Cu(C(10)H(7)NO(5))(H(2)O)].H(2)O](n), the Cu atom adopts a square-based pyramidal coordination involving a N,O,O'-tridentate glycine dianionic ligand, a water O atom and an apical bridging carboxylate O atom from an adjacent ligand. The title compound also adopts a carboxylate-bridged chain structure. The molecular chain propagates in a helical fashion along the b axis of the monoclinic unit cell. Neighbouring chains are linked together to form a three-dimensional network via hydrogen-bonding interactions between coordinated and uncoordinated water molecules and O atoms of the bridging carboxylate groups.