The single-crystal X-ray structures of dimethyl 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-dicarboxylate, C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₄, and the copper(I) coordination complex bis­(dimethyl 2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-dicarboxylato-κ²N,N′)copper(I) tetra­fluoro­borate, [Cu(C₁₄H₁₂N₂O₄)₂]BF₄, are reported. The uncoordinated ligand crystallizes across an inversion centre and adopts the anti­cipated anti pyridyl arrangement with coplanar pyridyl rings. In contrast, upon coordination of copper(I), the ligand adopts an arrangement of pyridyl donors facilitating chelating metal coordination and an increased inter-pyridyl twisting within each ligand. The distortion of each ligand contrasts with comparable copper(I) complexes of unfunctionalized 2,2′-bipyridine.