The title compound, [Cu(C2H3O3)(C14H12N2)(H2O)]NO3, is the first example of
a mixed copper glycolate compound with a diimine ligand. The copper(II) co
mpound lies in a slightly distorted square-pyramidal coordination environme
nt with one water molecule coordinated in the apical position. The glycolat
e ligand binds to the Cu atom as a chelate through a carboxylate and the al
pha-OH O atom which, together with the N atoms of the substituted phenanthr
oline, constitute the base of the pyramid.