The compound (2,6-pyridine-dicarboxamide)(2,6-pyridine-dicarboxylato)copper(II) dihydrate ([Cu(pdc)(pdcam)]·2H 2 O, compound 1) has been synthesised by reaction of Cu 2 (CO 3 )(OH) 2 , H 2 pdc acid and pdcam in an aqueous-ethanol medium. The new compound has been characterised by thermal, spectral, magnetic and X-ray diffraction methods. Its crystal consists of a 3D hydrogen bonded network where all N–H(amide) bonds of pdcam act as H-donors for O carboxyl(pdc) or water acceptor atoms. The Cu(II) atom exhibits an elongated octahedral coordination, type 4+2. Both pdc and pdcam ligands define a nearly orthogonal dihedral angle (88.4°). The anionic pdc acts as mer-NO 2 (equatorial) tridentate ligand, supplying three among the four closest to the metal donor atoms (Cu–N 1.913(2), Cu–O 2.022(2) and 2.055(2) Å). The diamide pdcam ligand displays a mer-N(equatorial)+O 2 (apical) role (Cu–N 2.007(2), Cu–O(amide) 2.295(2) and 2.305(2) Å), thus showing a remarkable conformational flexibility.