The liquid like --> solid like 2D phase transition of adenine adsorbed at the Hg/ethylene glycol solution interface is here studied. Equilibrium aspects are effectively rationalized by using a model which was originally developed in the case of the 2D phase transition of adenine adsorbed at the Hg/aqueous solution interface [1,2]. In this work, the attention is mainly focused on the validation of the model itself in the case of a solvent different from water. The results obtained in the two different solvents are then compared in terms of structural (orientation of the adsorbate at the interface) and related thermodynamic (liquid like --> solid like 2D standard entropy variation) properties. It is also found that the kinetics of formation of the 2D solid like phase follows a nucleation and growth mechanism, again in close similarity with the results obtained in water. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.