Electrochemical lithiation/delithiation and sodiation/desodiation studies are carried out on lithium [1,1'biphenyl]-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylate (Li-4-BPTC). Although four Li+ can be inserted, only two Li+ was reversible yielding a capacity of 110, 122 and 107 mAh g(-1) (after 50 cycles) at a current density of 40, 80 and 160 mA g(-1) respectively. As sodium analog of Li-4-BPTC is unstable in the ambient conditions, Li-4-BPTC was tested in sodium half-cell and a reversible capacity of 107 mAh g-1 was obtained even after 200 cycles at 160 mA g-1 rate. The exchange of L+ by Na+ in Li-4-BPTC electrode during the electrochemical sodiation/desodiation was confirmed by ICP-OES and XPS studies. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.