The coordination chemistry of tartronic acid, , with copper(ii) has been investigated. Structures of two complexes are reported containing respectively the complex [Cu(-2H)2Cl](3-) where acts as a bidentate ligand through carboxylates, and [Cu3(-3H)3](3-) where the alcohol function is deprotonated to bridge two coppers in a triangular trinuclear complex. The latter species undergoes facile oxidation leading to carbon-carbon bond formation. The magnetic and EPR properties of the trinuclear complex have been studied in detail.