Reported here for the first time are the synthesis and characterization of supramolecular complexes between diaryl -lambda(3)-iodanes and 18-crown-6 (18C6). Slow evaporation of solvents afforded 1:1 and 2:1 complexes between Ph2IBF4 and 18C6 as stable crystals, depending on the conditions. X-ray crystal structures of these complexes indicated that each iodine atom contacts with the three adjacent oxygen atoms of 18C6 through two hypervalent secondary bonding and a weak interaction. H-1 NMR analyses and CSI-MS spectra showed that, in dichloromethane solution, Ph2IBF4 exclusively forms the 1:1 complex with 18C6 (binding constant K-a, 1.02 x 10(3) M-1). The binding constants decrease with the increased solvent donor ability (Gutmann's DN). Changing the heteroatom ligand from BF4 to the less nucleophilic PF6 and AsF6 increased the binding constant by about six times. Substitution of an electron-withdrawing group onto the para position of Ph2IBF4 tends to increase in the complex stability. A linear Hammett relationship (rho = 0.59) between log K-a and sigma(P)(+) values of substituents indicates that the diaryl-lambda(3)-iodanes with electropositive iodine(III) interact more efficiently with 18C6. Decreased binding magnitude was measured with 15C5, dibenzo-18C6, dibenzo-21C7, and dibenzo-30C10.