Abstract A novel heterobinuclear mixed valence complex [FeIIICuII (BPBPMP)(OAc)2]ClO4, 1, with the unsymmetrical N5O2 donor ligand 2-bis[{(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl}-6-{(2- hydroxybenzyl)(2-pyridylmethyl)}aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol (H2BPBPMP) has been synthesized and characterized. A combination of data from mass spectrometry, potentiometric titrations, X-ray absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, as well as kinetics measurements indicates that in ethanol/water solutions an [FeIII–(μ)OH–CuIIOH2]+ species is generated which is the likely catalyst for 2,4-bis(dinitrophenyl)phosphate and DNA hydrolysis. Insofar as the data are consistent with the presence of an FeIII-bound hydroxide acting as a nucleophile during catalysis, 1 presents a suitable mimic for the hydrolytic enzyme purple acid phosphatase. Notably, 1 is significantly more reactive than its isostructural homologues with different metal composition (FeIIIMII, where MII is ZnII, MnII, NiII, or FeII). Of particular interest is the observation that cleavage of double-stranded plasmid DNA occurs even at very low concentrations of 1 (2.5 μM), under physiological conditions (optimum pH of 7.0), with a rate enhancement of 2.7×107 over the uncatalyzed reaction. Thus, 1 is one of the most effective model complexes to date, mimicking the function of nucleases.