catena-Poly[[tetrakis(μ-3,3-dimethyl-butyrato-O:O′)dicopper(II)]-μ-3,3-dimethylbutyrato-O:O′-[bis(2,6-dimethylpyridine-N)copper(II)]-μ-3,3-dimethylbutyrato-O:O′] and tetrakis-(μ-2,2-dimethylpropanoato-O:O′)bis-[(2,6-dimethylpyridine-N)copper(II)]

The two title compounds, [Cu-3 (C6H11O2)(6)(C7H9N)(2)](n), (I), and [Cu-2(C5H9O2)(4)(C7H9N)(2)], (II), have chain and finite-molecular structures, respectively. In (I), binuclear cage units and mononuclear 2,6-dimethylpyridine complexes, both of which have inversion centres, are arranged alternately and are linked by the carboxylate ions to form one-dimensional chains along the a axis. In (II), the binuclear cage unit has an inversion centre and the coordination geometry around the Cu atom is typical square pyramidal, with 2,6-dimethylpyridine at the apical position.