Three copper polypyridyl complexes were examined as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR): a Cu-N-3 complex, [Cu [tris(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methane]-(NCMe)]PF6 (1); a related Cu2N6 derivative, [Cu-2-[1,2-bis(6-(bis(6-methylpyridin-2-yl)methyl)pyridin-2-yl)ethane]-( NCMe)(2)](PF6)(2) (2); and the CuN4 species [Cu-[tris(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amine]](ClO4)(2) [3](ClO4)(2). Compared to other copper complexes, [3] (ClO4)(2) exhibits the highest reported ORR onset potential for a Cu complex of 0.53 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode at pH 1. The Cu2N6 hemocyanin model is more active than the CuN3, but both are less active than the CuN4 complex. The results indicate that copper polypyridyl complexes are promising cathode catalysts for ORR.