A zinc complex with ligand N,N ''-bis(p-carboxyphenylaminocarbonylmethyl)-N,N',N ''-trihydroxycarbonylmethyl diethylenetriamine, ZnH3L center dot 4H(2)O (H5L = C28H33N5O12), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV and thermogravimetry. The crystal structure of the complex was determined by X-ray diffraction method. It belongs to triclinic system with P(1) over bar space group and a = 0.8442(2) nm, b = 1.0837(3) nn, c = 1.9082(6) nm, a = 104.052(5)degrees, beta = 94.624(5)degrees, gamma = 93.093(5)degrees, Z = 2, R-1 = 0.0547, wR(2) = 0.1306. The structure was solved by direct methods. The Zn(II) cation coordinates to one amide oxygen atom, two amino nitrogen atoms and two carboxy oxygen atoms of the ligand, forming a distorted trigonal bipyramid. The molecules of the complex are linked through hydrogen bonding to form three-dimensional network.