The invention relates to a synthetic method for a 1,3,4-oxadiazole compound based on calixarene and application thereof to Cu2+ selective recognition. The structure of the 1,3,4-oxadiazole compound is shown as the general formula I. The compound has the advantages that the compound has the specific selective recognition performance to Cu2+, the sensitivity is high, and the compound is not interfered by other co-existing ions; the compound further has the advantages of being simple in structure, short in synthetic route, high in yield and the like. The compound has broad application prospects in detection of Cu2+ in water solutions, biological cells and the like. The general formula I is shown in the description.