A new complex [Cu_1.5(tfc)₃(H₂O)₄]·3H₂O (1, Htfc = 4-(trifluoro-methyl) nicotinic acid) has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray single-crystal diffraction, elemental analysis, IR spectra and thermo-gravimetric analysis. 1 belongs to orthorhombic system, space group Pccn with a = 44.507(2), b = 10.7710(6), c = 11.7544(7) Å, V = 5634.9(6) ų, Z = 1, D_c = 1.803 mg·cm^-3, F(000) = 3068, μ = 1.266 mm^-1, the final R = 0.0488 and wR = 0.1103 with I > 2σ(I). The Cu(II) ion is coordinated by two N and two O atoms from different Htfc as well as two O atoms from two coordinated water molecules, forming a 0D motif with distorted octahedral geometry. The adjacent 0D units are linked into 2D structures through bridge connection coordination mode. In addition, the binding properties of the complex with CT-DNA were investigated by fluorescence and ultraviolet spectra. UV spectra indicate classical intercalation between the complex and CT-DNA. Moreover, the interactions between the ligand and the complex with CT-DNA were studied by EtBr fluorescence probe, which proved that these compounds bind to CT-DNA through an intercalation mode. The binding constants were 0.76 and 1.15 for Htfc and complex 1, which means 1 has stronger interaction with CT-DNA than Htfc.