Characterization of the interaction of a urea-functionalized calix[4] arene ionophore and phosphate was undertaken by combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry, potentiometric selectivity coefficient evaluation and voltammetric ion transfer at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions (ITIES). NMR revealed that the urea protons were involved in complexation with the target anion and potentiometric separate solution selectivity data indicated selectivity for phosphate over chloride and sulphate. Voltammetry at the ITIES confirmed that the ionophore-facilitated transfer of monohydrogen phosphate occurred in preference to dihydrogen phosphate transfer. The results correlate with previously reported data on the potentiometric evaluation of this calixarene as an anionophore in PVC-membrane electrodes. The data provide the basis for development of amperometric monohydrogen phosphate sensors based on the ion-transfer principle. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.