Aqua­{2-(pyridin-2-yl)-N-[(pyridin-2-yl)methyl­idene]ethanamine-κ(3) N,N′,N′′}(sulfato-κ(2) O,O′)copper(II) tetra­hydrate

The title complex, [Cu(SO(4))(C(13)H(13)N(3))(H(2)O)]·4H(2)O, was obtained by mixing copper sulfate penta­hydrate and 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-N-(pyridin-2-yl­methyl­idene)ethanamine in eth­anol under reflux conditions. The Cu(II) ion shows a Jahn–Teller-distorted octa­hedral geometry, with equatorial positions occupied by three N atoms from the tridentate ligand (average Cu—N = 2.004 Å) and one O atom from a bidentate sulfate anion [Cu—O = 1.963 (2) Å]. The axial positions are occupied by one O atom from a coordinating water mol­ecule [Cu—O = 2.230 (3) Å] and one weakly bonded O atom [Cu—O = 2.750 (2) Å] from the bidentate sulfate ion. The complex mol­ecules are connected through O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the coordinating water mol­ecules and sulfate ions from neighboring complexes, forming a double chain parallel to the c axis. The chains are stabilized through additional hydrogen bonds by one of the non-coordinating water mol­ecules bridging between neighboring strands of the double chains. The remaining three water mol­ecules fill the inter­stitial space between the double chains and are involved in an intricate hydrogen-bonding network that consolidates the structure.