Two alkanol-imidazole ligands have been synthesized. Metal (Cu(II), Zn(II), Ni(II)) complexes of these ligands have been investigated as catalysts for the hydrolysis of bis(p-nitrophenyl) phosphate (BNPP) in the buffered CTAB co-micellar solution at 30degreesC and various pH values, respectively. The ternary complex kinetic model for metallomicellar catalysis was employed to analyze the results, to obtain the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. The effect of the structure of the ligands and the microenvironment of the reaction on the hydrolytic reaction of BNPP has been discussed in detail. The results indicate that the hydrophobic interaction between the substrate and the metallomicellar catalyst and the micellar microenvironment are important factors. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier Inc.