One complex {Cd(phen)[(C6H5)(2)C(OH)COO](2)}(2)center dot H2O has been synthesized with benzilic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline. The crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal belongs to a triclinic system with space group P (1) over bar, a=1.180 19(11) nm, b=1.194 48(14) nm, c=1.327 94(12) nm, alpha = 107.992 0(10)degrees, beta=95.467 0(2)degrees, gamma=99.128 0(10)degrees, V=1.737 1(3) mm(3), D-c=1.446 g.cm(-3), Z=1, F(000)=770. Final R-1=0.0325, wR(2)=0.0660, GooF=1.094. The crystal structure shows that the cadmium(II) ion is coordinated with four oxygen...