Preparation, characterization and biological relevance of calcium(II)/diethylmalonate(-1,-2) complexes

► The first structurally characterized Ca(II)-disubstituted malonate complex. ► The first complex of any metal with the monoanion Et2malH− as ligand. ► Two different coordination modes of Et2malH− generate 1D chains. ► H-bonds link the chains to 3D networks. ► The networks contain hydrophobic cavities containing the Et groups.