The coordination chemistry of 2,8-dithia[9],(2,9)-1,10-phenanthrolinophane (L) towards transition and post-transition metal ions such as Cu(II), Cu(I), Cd(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) was studied at the polarized water/1,2-dichloroethane interface by cyclic voltammetry. The dependence of the half-wave transfer potential on the ligand and metal concentrations was used to formulate the stoichiometry, and to evaluate the association constants of the complexes formed between L and Pb(II). (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.