Separation of optical isomers of some derivatives of amino acids by reversed-phase HPLC has been accomplished by adding a chelate of an optically active amino acid to copper(Ⅱ) to the mobile phase. Cu(Ⅱ) complexes of L-proline and L-hydroxyproline in the mobile phase showed different degrees of separation. Optical isomers of DNS derivatives of amino acids are selectively separated, but those of several other derivatives are not at all. The kinds of buffer agents, the pH, and the concentrations of acetonitrile and the Cu(Ⅱ) ligand all affect the separations. The elution behavior between D and L DNS-amino acids appears to depend on the alkyl side chain of the amino acids. A chromatographic mechanism is proposed that is based on a stereospecificity of the formation of ternary complexes by the D, L-DNS-amino acids and the chiral additive associated with the stationary phase. The steric effects of the ligand exchange reactions are related with the feasibility of cis and/or trans attack of the amino acids to the binary chiral chelate retained on the stationary phase.