Three copper(II) complexes (I-III) bearing N,O-bidentate ligands (L 1 -L 3 ), derived from 2-methylquinoline and cyclic secondary amines (including pyrrolidine, morpholine, and 4-methylpiperidine), were successfully prepared and successively employed in construction of C N bonds via the Chan-Lam coupling of 1H-imidazole derivatives with arylboronic acids. X-ray diffraction analysis demonstrated that the central copper(II) atom of II adopted the distorted tetrahedral geometry, which was four coordinated by one nitrogen atom and one oxygen atom from L 2 as well as two chloride atoms. Catalytic studies indicated that complex II displayed higher activity in Chan-Lam reaction than complex I or III. The present protocol for N,O-coordinated-copper complexcatalyzed C N coupling reaction exhibited some advantages such as wide scope of substrates, good yields, and mild conditions.