The interactions of 4-tert-butyl-calix[4] arene and some amines in acetonitrile were studied by UV-spectroscopy and conductance measurements. Some thermodynamic constants of these reactions were estimated. The "complex constants" derived from the UV-spectroscopy differ obviously from those in the literature acquired using the same method for the same systems. According to the conductance results, the reactions between 4-tert-butyl-calix[4] arene and amines proceed in two steps. First, a proton transfer from calixarene to amine. Then the ions with opposite charges partly cut in to form the complex. The true stability constants of the complexes are much less than their "complex constants". Below the saturate concentration of 4-tert- butyl-calix[4] arene, the ions formed from the proton transfer are always the main products. These conclusions are opposite with those in literature.

Key words: ACETONITRILE, CALIXARENE, ALIPHATIC AMINES, INTERACTIONS, ULTRAVIOLET SPECTROPHOTOMETRY, REACTION MECHANISM