A novel chiral metal–organic framework based on copper(II) and mixed ligands [Cu(tsgluO)(4,4-bipy)1.5]n·2.7nH2O (1) (H2tsgluO=N-tosyl-l-glutamic acid, 4,4-bipy=4,4-bipyridine) has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The X-ray diffraction revealed that complex 1 is formed via self-assembly of 1D right-handed helical chain and 1D ladder-like double chain, and the two different 1D chains are further interpenetrated to give rise to a 3D porous framework which consists of 1D channel along the a axes. Interestingly, the host framework encapsulates unique octameric water clusters.