A coppe(II) complex Cu(3,5-DMBA)(2)(phen) has been synthesized by self-assembly of 3,5-dimethylbenzoic acid, 1,10-phenanthroline and copper perchlorate. Crystal data for this complex: Monoclinic, space group C2/c with a=2.3483(5) nm, b=0.9844(2) nm, c=1.1384(2) nm, beta=103.02(3)degrees, V=2.5639(9) nm(3), D-c=1.404 g center dot cm(-3), Z=4, F(000)=l 124, final GooF=1.051, R-1=0.035 0, wR(2)=0.099 8. The crystal structure shows that the copper atom is coordinated with two oxygen atoms from two 3,5-dimethylbenzoic acids and two nitrogen atoms from the 1,10-phenanthroline, forming a square-plana...