The invention relates to a copper complex, a preparation method of the copper complex, and a catalysis research result related to the copper complex. The copper complex has a mononuclear structure with the chemical formula of [Cu (dpca) (2,2'-bipy) (ClO4) (H2O)], wherein Hdpca=2,4-dyhydroxyl pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid, and 2,2'-bipy=2, 2'-bipyridyl. The complex is formed by means of self-assembly cultivation of master ligand 2,4-dyhydroxyl pyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid, auxiliary ligand 2,2'-bipyridyl and Cu(ClO4)2.6H2O under room temperature, wherein the product has the characteristics of being high in stability, insoluble in water and most organic solvents, easy to separate, and reusable. The complex is taken as a catalyst to be used for the 2, 6-xylenol (DMP) oxidative coupling reaction, so that the polyphenyl ether (PPE) can be prepared with high selectivity, and a series of problems that the polyphenyl ether generated by the 2, 6-xylenol oxidative coupling reaction is bad in selectivity, low in yield, hard to recover catalyst, and capable of polluting the environment caused by the solvent can be solved.