Herein, we present the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro investigation of cytotoxic activity against cancer (HepG-2, MCF-7) and non-cancerous (Hek-293, MRC-5) cell lines of six copper(II) complexes with 1H-tetrazole-5-acetic acid (H2L) and secondary ligands, such as olygopyridines (dmphen – 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, phendione – 1,10 phenanthroline-5,6-dione, 5-Cl-phen – 5-chloro-1,10-phenanthroline, phen – 1,10 phenanthroline, dmbipy – 2,2′-bi-4-picoline, bipy – 2,2′-bipyridine). These compounds were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, elemental, and thermogravimetric analysis. The behavior of the complexes in solution was studied by optical spectroscopy, conductometry, and EPR. The DNA binding constant has been obtained for complex 5 using UV–vis spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activity of the complexes has been investigated against E. coli, S. aureus, P. italicum, and C. steinii. In addition, eight new crystal structures were obtained: [Cu(5-Cl-phen)L]n·0.5DMSO·1.5H2O (3a), [Cu(phen)L]n·2.5nH2O (4·2.5nH2O), [Cu3(phen)2(H2O)(HL)2L2]n·6nH2O (4a), [Cu(dmbipy)L]n (5), [Cu(dmbipy)(HL)2] (5a), [Cu3(dmpiby)2(HL)2L2]n·2nH2O·2nC2H5OH (5b), [Cu(bipy)L]n (6), and [Cu(bipy)(H2O)L] (6a).
