Herein the synthesis and extraction abilities of new d-/l-phenylalaninol substituted p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene triamide derivatives (3 and 4) towards amino acids are reported. These compounds (3 and 4) have been easily synthesized via aminolysis of p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene trimethylester (2) with d-/l-phenylalaninol in methanol-toluen solvent system at one step. The extraction properties of the prepared chiral calix[4]arene triamide derivatives (3 and 4) towards some selected amino acid methylesters are studied by liquid-liquid extraction. Results show that these chiral calix[4]arene triamide derivatives (3 and 4) exhibited a good affinity towards all amino acid species without any remarkably discrimination. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.