Copper pyridine 2,6-dicarboxylate trihydrate (Cu(H2DPC)(DPC)center dot 3H(2)O) was synthesized. X-ray crystallography, chemical analysis, and elemental analysis were applied to characterize the structure and composition of the complex. Low-temperature heat capacities of the complex were measured with a small sample automated adiabatic calorimeter. The smoothed molar heat capacities and thermodynamic functions of the complex relative to the standard reference temperature 298.15 K were calculated based on the fitted polynomial equation. A reasonable thermochemical cycle was designed, and the standard molar enthalpies of dissolution for the reactants and products of the synthesis reaction in a selected solvent were measured by an isoperibol solution-reaction calorimeter. Eventually, the standard molar enthalpy of formation of the title complex was calculated as -(2389.92 +/- 2.53) kJ mol(-1) by the Hess thermochemical cycle. In addition, the reliability of the designed thermochemical cycle was verified by UV-vis spectroscopy. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.