Reaction of Cu (II) complex [CuII (LH)(O2CCH3) 2][LH= 4, 6-di tert-butyl-2-((2-picolyl (isopropyl) amino) methyl) phenol] with equivalent amount of NO2 leads to the reduction of Cu (II) to Cu (I) with concomitant nitration at the phenol ring. Additional equivalent of NO2