N-(2-Pyridylmethyl) pyridine-2-methylketimine (L1) was synthesized from equimolar quantities of (2-pyridyl) methylamine and 2-acetylpyridine. Methanolic solution of L1 reacted readily with Cu(NO3)(2), 3H(2)O in air, affording green solid of composition {[Cu(L2)(OH)(NO3)][Cu(L2)(NO3)(2)]}, 2H(2)O, where L2 is 4'-(2-pyridyl)- 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine. Oxidation of the active methylene group of L1 to an imide and then condensation with 2- acetylpyridine involving a C - C bond-forming reaction, mediated by a Cu2+ ion, are the essential steps involved in the conversion of L1 to L2. L2 is isolated by extrusion of Cu2+ with EDTA(2-). The copper center in [Cu(L2)(OH)(NO3)] has a mer-N3O3 environment, and that in [Cu(L2)(NO3)(2)] has a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. Two H2O molecules held by C-H center dot center dot center dot O interactions are present in the predominantly hydrophobic channels of approximate cavity dimension 7.60 x 6.50 angstrom created by aromatic rings through pi - pi interactions.