catena-Poly[bis­(μ₃-2-phenyl­acetato-κ³O,O′:O)bis­(μ₂-2-phenyl­acetato-κ²O:O′)dicopper(II)(Cu—Cu)]

The title polymeric compound, [Cu₂(C₈H₇O₂)₄]_n, was synthesized by the reaction of copper acetate with aqueous phenyl­acetic acid. The unique Cu^II atom is coordinated by five O atoms from the carboxyl­ate groups of phenyl­acetate ligands, and the strongly distorted octa­hedral coordination environment is completed by a Cu—Cu bond of 2.581 (2) Å, at whose mid-point is located an inversion centre. The crystal structure consists of infinite polymeric linear chains of Cu²⁺ ions, running along [100], linked by bridging phenyl­acetate groups.