The possibility of crown ethers: 18 - crown - 6 (18C6), benzo - 18 - crown - 6 (B18C6), dibenzo - 18 - crown - 6 (DB18C6) and cryptand 222 (222) to form complexes with the cationic species of a series of α - amino acids in the protonated form (L - leucine, L - isoleucine, L - phenylalanine, L - methionine, L - valine and L - α-alanine) has been investigated. These cationic complexes can be extracted in chloroform, as ion pair complexes using pirate anion as counterion. The extraction constants have been determined by UV - Vis absorption method and they are in the 4.2 - 5.28, 4.19 - 4.54, 3.5 - 4.25, and 4.15 - 4.49 ranges when 18C6, B18C6, DB18C6 crown ethers, and 222 cryptand, respectively are used.