Synthesis of a well-defined CuII complex 1 featuring a phenanthroline-based tridentate scaffold, 2-pyrazol-(1,10-phenanthroline) (L) and studies of its catalytic activity in the cross dehydrogenative coupling of acids with common alkanes to form allylic esters are reported. The complex 1 showed excellent catalytic activity in the oxidative cross dehydrogenative coupling of a wide variety of alkanes with acids to form the corresponding allylic esters in moderate to high yields. Several control experiments along with spectroscopic studies were carried out to characterize catalyst 1 and to explore the plausible mechanistic pathways.