The crystal and molecular structure of a dinuclear copper(II) complex with 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid (H(4)ptca) and ethylenediamine (en) [Cu-2(en)(4)(mu-ptca)] (EtOH)(2)(H2O)(6) has been determined by X-ray structural analysis. Each copper atom is coordinated by four-nitrogen atoms of two en molecules, one oxygen atom of bridging ptca(4-) and one water molecule in an octahedral arrangement. The resulting dinuclear copper(II) complex forms two-dimensional network through intermolecular hydrogen bonds between carboxylate of ptca4- and the water. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd; All rights reserved.