Various crown ethers have been electropolymerized onto a platinum electrode for the determination of catechol and catecholamines by static potentiometry and potentiometric-flow injection analysis(FIA). The response mechanism of this modified electrode was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis(ESCA). However, these studies were not conclusive with respect to possible mechanisms, and, therefore, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies were carried out on similar soluble crown ethers to determine the mode of interaction. As the crown ether resonances were shifted to higher fields by the added catechol in D2O but not d6-DMSO, it is postulated that the crown ether and catechol associate via interactions between hydrophobic surfaces. Hydrophilic ascorbic acid showed no NMR shifts which is consistent with its lack of potentiometric response. The EDAX and ESCA results indicated that there was also an interaction of catechol with the crown itself but the NMR shows that this interaction is a secondary effect in the overall electrode response.