The use of tris (2,2′-bipyridil) copper (II) chloride complex, [Cu(bipy)3]Cl2·6H2O, as a biomimetic catalyst, is reported in the construction of an amperometric sensor for dopamine. The sensor was prepared modifying a glassy carbon electrode with a Nafion® membrane doped with the complex. The optimized conditions for the sensor response were obtained in 0.25 mol dm-3 Pipes buffer (pH 7.0) containing 150 μmol dm-3 H2O2, with an applied potential of -50 mV versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE). In these conditions, a linear response range between 9 and 230 μmol dm-3, with a sensitivity of 1.43 ± 0.01 nA dm3 μmol-1 cm-2 and a detection limit of 4.8 μmol dm-3 were observed for dopamine. The response time for this sensor was about 1 s, presenting the same response for at least 150 successive measurements, with a good repeatability (4.8%) expressed as relative standard deviation for n = 13. After its construction, this sensor can be used after 180 days without loss of sensitivity, kept at room temperature. The difference of the sensor response between four preparations was 4.2%. A detailed investigation about the sensor response for other eighteen phenolic compounds and five interfering species was performed. The sensor was applied for dopamine determination in pharmaceutical preparation with success. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.