A zinc complex with ligand N,N''-bis(p-carboxyphenylaminocarbonylmethyl)-N,N',N''-trihy- droxycarbonylmethyl diethylenetriamine, ZnH₃L•4H₂O (H₅L＝C₂₈H₃₃N₅O₁₂), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV and thermogravimetry. The crystal structure of the complex was determined by X-ray diffraction method. It belongs to triclinic system with P1 space group and a＝0.8442(2) nm, b＝1.0837(3) nm, c＝1.9082(6) nm, α＝104.052(5)°, β＝94.624(5)°, γ＝93.093(5)°, Z＝2, R₁＝0.0547, wR₂＝0.1306. The structure was solved by direct methods. The Zn(II) cation coordinates to one amide oxygen atom, two amino nitrogen atoms and two carboxy oxygen atoms of the ligand, forming a distorted trigonal bipyramid. The molecules of the complex are linked through hydrogen bonding to form three-dimensional network.

Key words: DTPA derivative, Zn(II) complex, crystal structure