metal-organic compounds
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The title compound, [Cu2(CN)3(C6H18N4)] or [Cu(trien)(CN)Cu(CN)2], where trien is triethylenetetramine, is a mixed-valence complex crystallizing as discrete molecules, with CuI and CuII ions linked by a bridging cyanide group. The CuII ion is in a square-pyramidal coordination environment, with the N atoms of the tetradentate trien ligand occupying the basal positions and Cu—N bond lengths in the range 2.028 (4)–2.047 (4) Å. An N-bonded cyanide group is in the apical position, with a slightly longer Cu—N bond length of 2.127 (4) Å. The CuI ion exhibits a trigonal–planar coordination geometry, bonded to the C atoms of the bridging cyanide group and two terminal cyanide groups with Cu—C bond lengths in the range 1.925 (4)–1.948 (5) Å. In the crystal, hydrogen bonding involving the tertiary N—H groups of the trien ligand and N atoms of symmetry-related terminal cyanide groups links molecules into a ribbon extending in the b-axis direction.