The reaction of CuCl with tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) affords a copper(II) complex, [(DCAE)(2)Cu(H2O)(2)] 1 (DCAE: dicyano-acetic acid methyl ester, derived from TCNE). Its structure has been characterized by physics-chemical and spectroscopic methods. Magnetic studies exhibit that no magnetic coupling between two Cu2+ via DCAE(-) unit in the temperature range 300-9 K. Electrochemical studies show that this copper complex can act as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen generation both from acetic acid, with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 74 mol of H-2 per mole of catalyst per hour an potential (OP) of 941.6 (in CH3CN), and from aqueous buffer (pH 7.0) with a TOF of 285 mol of H-2 per mole of catalyst per hour at an OP of 787.6 mV. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.