Single crystal X-ray study on a novel terephthalato-(μ 2-tp)-bridged binuclear Cu(II) tetraaza macrocyclic complex, [Cu 2(dinemac) 2(tp)(ClO 4) 2], reveals that the syn– anti disposition of two NO 2 groups in the individual dinemac ligand and consequent intermolecular H-bonding between the two successive binuclear entities on both sides results a supramolecular R 2 2 (34) synthon in (0 1 1) plane which on further propagation in the same sequence renders two single strand helices connected via tp moiety results a 3-D supramolecular helical ladder-like assembly.