The single crystal X-ray structure of the supramolecular complex formed between diphenyl-lambda3-iodane (Ph2IBF4) or 1-alkynyl(phenyl)-lambda3-iodane [Bu(t)CCI(Ph)BF4] and 1,10-phenanthroline indicates a hitherto unknown distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry around iodine(III), in which 1,10-phenanthroline acts as a bidentate ligand and occupies equatorial sites.