Ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, [C2C1im][AcO])-copper(ii) diacetate monohydrate-water-air (O2) systems have been investigated by (13)C NMR, EPR, spectrophotometry, HPLC, and synthetic chemistry methods at different temperatures. The C-H bond activation of [C2C1im](+) with the formation of the unusual dication 1,1'-diethyl-3,3'-dimethyl-2,2'-biimidazolium ([(C2C1im)2](2+)) at 50 °C and 1-ethyl-3-methyl-1H-imidazol-2(3H)-one (C2C1imO) at 50-85 °C was revealed. Two new complexes with the above compounds, [(C2C1im)2][Cu(AcO)4] and Cu2(AcO)4(C2C1imO)2, were isolated from the systems and characterized by X-ray structural analysis. Catalytic cycles with the participation of copper(ii) acetate and dioxygen and the production of [(C2C1im)2](2+) and C2C1imO have been proposed. The catalysis presumably includes the formation of the Cu(II)(O2)Cu(II) active centre with μ-η(2):η(2)-peroxide bridging in analogy with tyrosinase and catechol oxidase activity.