Chiral discrimination of alpha-amino acids has been realized by a C(2)-symmetric homoditopic receptor, which is based on a binaphthyl chiral skeleton with 2,2'diisopropoxy substituents and a common binding side arm, (o-carboxamido)-trifluoroacetophenone moiety, in the 3,3'-positions, which recognizes alpha-amino acids as their amino carboxylate forms through formation of stabilized adducts.