An improved preparative method for the synthesis of oligo(ethylene glycol) bis[2-(diphenylphosphinoyl)ethyl] ethers has been developed. The complex-forming ability of these ligands toward alkali-metal cations has been studied by conductometry in anhydrous MeCN at 25-degrees-C. Ligands of this type have been shown to be highly efficient and selective complexing agents with respect to the Li+ cation. The stability series of the complexes M+L has the form Li > Na > K > Rb in all cases. The complexing properties and selectivity displayed by these new monopodands in MeCN have been compared with those in the THF-CHCl3 (4:1) system studied previously.