Tetra-mu-alpha-alanine-bis[tetraaquagadolinium(III)] hexaperchlorate.

The title complex, [Gd(2)(C(3)H(7)NO(2))(4)(H(2)O)(8)](ClO(4))(6), contains centrosymmetric dimeric [Gd(2)(Ala)(4)(H(2)O)(8)](6+) cations (Ala is alpha-alanine) and perchlorate anions. The four alanine molecules act as bridging ligands linking two Gd(3+) ions through their carboxylate O atoms. Each Gd(3+) ion is also coordinated by four water molecules, which complete an eightfold coordination in a square-antiprism fashion. The perchlorate anions and the methyl groups of the alanine ligands are disordered.