Copper(i) chalcogenones with rare Cu⋯H-C(sp3) hydrogen bonding interactions have been reported. The copper(i) bis(benzimidazole-2-chalcogenone) complexes [Cu(L1)4]+BF4−(1) and [Cu(L2)4]+BF4−(2) (L1= bis(1-isopropyl-benzimidazole-2-selone)-3-ethyl;L2= bis(1-isopropyl-benzimidazole-2-thione)-3-ethyl) have been synthesized and characterized. Both complexes possess distorted tetrahedral geometry with a semi-trans arrangement of the benzimidazole-chalcogenone ligands around the Cu(i) center. The structures of1and2reveal homoleptic coordination with the Cu(i) center with the (sp3)C-H groups of the ethylene linker directed towards the Cu(i) center to maximize the rare proximity-enforced intramolecular Cu⋯H-C interactions. The Cu⋯H-C interactions are found to have a hydrogen bonding nature in the crystalline state, as these interactions are absent in the solution state. © The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 2021.