A novel biomimetic catalyst of complex Cu(p-OTs)2/ethanolamine(1∶1) was used to oxidize 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol into xanthene derivatives with a relative high yield in a mixed solvents of dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) and CH3OH. The studies on the effect of some solvents on the yield of xanthene derivatives indicates that the yield reduces dramatically with the increase of the content of H2O in the mixed solvents of H2O and DMSO. No product can be obtained when the content of H2O is up to 70%. The cyclic voltammetric study demonstrated that the copper ion in complex Cu(p-OTs)2/ethanolamine(1∶1) is reduced via a two-step one-electron reduction process from Cu(Ⅱ) to Cu in the mixture of DMSO and H2O. Water as a poor solvent in respect to the reactants probably hampered the coordination of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol to copper/amine complex and led to the insufficient catalytic efficiency of complex Cu(p-OTs)2/ethanolamine(1∶1).