Molecules of 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-5,7-dione, or cis-dioxocyclam, C(10)H(20)N(4)O(2), lie across mirror planes in space group Cmca; the crystal structure reveals interleaved columns of cis-dioxocyclam molecules along the 2(1) screw axis parallel to the crystallographic b axis. The columns are interconnected in a chain-like arrangement by an amido hydrogen-bonding network (N* * *O = 2.816 A) and an amino hydrogen-bonding network (N* * *N = 3.193 A). The intracolumn spacing is 9.02 A.