The molecular structure of Cu(II) complexes, obtained using direct and electrochemical synthesis, with 4-oxo-4H-chromene-2-carboxylic acid, 2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carboxylic acid and (7-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl) acetic acid have been studied. Due to difficulties in obtaining complexes as monocrystals the combination of laboratory based methods with X-ray absorption spectroscopy supported with density functional theory calculations has been employed. Complexes were found to be mono-and dinuclear. Different coordination modes were also observed: monodentate, bidentate chelating and carboxylate bridges. The octahedral geometry was found for complex with 2-carboxylic acid whereas for the other two the tetragonal pyramid was formed around copper cations. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.