A chiral stationary phase derived from (S)-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine N-phenyl N-alkyl amide (CSP 2) was applied in separating the two enantiomers of various π-basic aromatic derivatives of leucine N-propyl amide in order to evaluate π-basic aromatic groups as an effective derivatizing group for the resolution of a-amino acids. Subsequently N-(3,5-dimethoxybenzoyl) group was found to be very effective as a π-basic aromatic derivatizing group. Based on these results, N-(3,5-dimethoxybenzoyl) derivatives of various a-amino N-propyl amides, N,N-diethyl amides and esters were resolved on the CSP derived from (S)-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl) leucine N-phenyl N-alkyl amide (CSP 2) and the resolution results were compared with those on the CSP derived from (S)-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine N-alkyl amide (CSP 1). The enantioselectivities exerted by CSP 2 were much greater than those exerted by CSP 1. In addition, racemic N-(3,5-dimethoxybenzoyl)-a-mino N,Ndiethyl amides were resolved much better than the corresponding N-(3,5-dimethoxybenzoyl)-a-mino N-propyl amides and esters on both CSPs. Based on these results, a chiral recognition mechanism utilizing the π-π donor-acceptor interaction and the two hydrogen bondings between the CSP and the analyte was proposed.