Herein the synthesis and recognition abilities towards amino acids and amino alcohols of new d-/l-phenylalaninol substituted p-tert-butylcalix[6]arenas are reported. These compounds, 6 and 7 have been synthesized via nucleophilic substitution reactions involving 5,11,17,23,29,35-tert-butyl-37,38-dimethoxy-39,40,41,42-(p-tosylethoxy)calix[6]arene 5 with d-/l-phenylalaninol in dry THF. The extraction properties of 6 and 7 towards some selected amino acid methylesters and amino alcohols have been studied by liquid-liquid extraction. These results show that chiral calix[6]arene derivatives exhibit a good affinity towards all amino acids and amino alcohols. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.