Structural characterisation of a water intercalated bis-ainide tecton and copper promoted monohydration of a dinitrile

Chains of H-bonded water intercalated bis-amide pairs were found in the structure of {[Cu(cdc)(2)(OH2)].H2O}(infinity). (1) (cdc(-) = carbamoyldicyanomethanide); specific hydration of one nitrile group of the cdc(-) ligands of 1 to give the previously unknown anion cyanomalonamidate (cyma(-)) as a ligand in [Cu(cyma)(2)].H2O is possible.