A new heterotrinuclear complex of formula [Cu2Zn(Hdmg)(2)(dmg)(2)(H2O)].0.5H(2)dmg.H2O (C18H34Cu2N9O11Zn, 1) (H(2)dmg = dimethylglyoxime) has been synthesized and its crystal structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P (1) over bar, with a = 11.414(1) Angstrom, b = 11.992(3) Angstrom, c 12.567(10) Angstrom, alpha = 91.27(6)degrees, beta = 111.46(2)degrees, gamma = 112.24(2)degrees, and Z = 2. The structure consists of a chain of neutral [Cu2Zn(Hdmg)(2)(dmg>(2)(H2O)] trinuclear units and noncoordinated H(2)dmg and water molecules. The configuration around the zinc atom is distorted trigonal bipyramidal with four oximate oxygens from two [Cu(Hdmg)(dmg)](-) fragments (each one acting as a bidentate ligand through its deprotonated oximate oxygens in cis positions) occupying one axial and the three equatorial positions and an additional oximate oxygen from a symmetry-related [Cu(Hdmg)(dmg)](-) fragment filling the remaining axial position. The environment around Cull) and Cu(2) is distorted square pyramidal with four oximate nitrogen atoms building the equatorial plane. An oxygen atom [O(9)] from a water molecule and an oximate oxygen from a symmetry-related [Cu(Hdmg)(dmg)](-) fragment occupy the apical position of the square pyramids around Cull) and Cu(2), respectively. The trinuclear units are repeated through inversion centers standing at the middle of the Zn(1)...Zn(1)(i) and Cu(2)...Cu(2)(ii) vectors leading to a chain which runs parallel to the diagonal of the ac-plane. The Cu(1)...Cu(2), Zn(1)...Zn(1)(i), and Cu(2)...Cu(2)(ii) separations are 5.506(2), 3.390(2), and 3.930(2) Angstrom, respectively. 1 exhibits a characteristic ferromagnetic behavior with a continuous increase of the chi(M)T product as the temperature is lowered from 300 to 2.0 K. The field dependence of the magnetization at 2.0 K is consistent with a low-lying quintet state. The only efficient exchange pathways responsible for the overall ferromagnetic coupling in 1 are the diamagnetic zinc(II) ion and the out-of-plane double-oximato bridge, the magnitude of the magnetic coupling between the copper(II) ions through these bridging units being 3.9 and 5.1 cm(-1), respectively.