A novel copper complex {[Cu(L)(H 2 O)]·(H 2 O) 2 (NO 3 )} n (1), (KL=potassium 4-(2-picolyl) piperidine-4-carboxylic acid) has been prepared from one-pot reaction of piperidine-4-carboxylic acid, 2-picolyl chloride hydrochloride and Cu(NO 3 ) 2 ·3H 2 O in the presence of base. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that complex 1 consists of two-dimensional layers constructed from a new flexible multidentate ligand bridging dimeric unit. The L ligand adopts a chair configuration. The hydrogen bonding interactions extend the two-dimensional layers into a three-dimensional supramolecular architecture.