Several new nitrogen-containing calixarene derivatives have been synthesized and their ion-binding properties investigated by UV spectroscopy and solvent extraction. These derivatives include 5,11,17,23-tetra-t-butyl-25,26,27,28-tetrakis (piperidinocarbonylmethoxy) calix [4] arene (5), 5,11,17,23,29,35,41,47-octa-t-butyl-49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56-octa (piperidinocarbonylmethoxy) calix[8]arene (6) and 5,11,17,23,29,35,41,47-octa-t-butyl-49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56-octa(N,N-diethylcarbamoylmethoxy) calix[8]arene (7). The UV spectra of 6 and 7 revealed they had an ability to transform tight lead picrate ion pairs into separated ones by complexation with Pb2+ in tetrahydrofuran. Both derivatives give 1: 1 complexes with Pb2+. Extraction studies showed that these derivatives could efficiently extract Pb2+ (as picrate salts) from the aqueous phase into chloroform. The extractability of these derivatives were also compared with that of the oxygen-containing ester derivative calix [8] arene 2 and the other two nitrogen-containing compounds 8 and 9.