The oxygenation of (2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(I) chloride in THF, followed by a treatment with DMF and acidification with HCl, afforded dichloro[2-(dimethylamino)(hydroxy)methyl-9-methyl-1,10-phenanthroline]copper(II) and (aqua)dichloro(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)copper(II) quantitatively.