In the study a series of Cu-containing composites was prepared by thermal decomposition of Cu II complexes with Phen and DAB deposited on Aerosil. One sample (Cu@C-1) uses activated carrbon RWAP-1208 instead of silica powder. The obtained composites contained metallic copper as nanoparticles along with significant quantity of N-doped carbon, which formed upon pyrolysis of the organic ligands. It was shown in the catalytic experimends, that the composites catalyzed reaction of propargylamine with ethyl 4-oxocyclohexanecarboxylate leading to ethyl 5,6,7,8tetrahydroquinoline-6-carboxylate. Such catalytic activity originated from the active sites on the surface of the composite, however contribution of the dissolved Cu cannot be excluded. It was found that Cu content in the reaction mixture was not the factor, which controlled the yield of the product.