Enantioselective liquid-liquid extraction has attracted considerable attention for its potential use in large-scale production. Kinetic data are needed for the reliable scale-up of the process. This paper reports the kinetic study of reactive extraction of phenylalanine (Phe) enantiomers with BINAP-copper complex (BINAP-Cu) as a chiral selector. The theory of extraction accompanied by a chemical reaction was applied. The effects of agitation speed, interfacial area, pH value of aqueous phase, initial concentration of Phe enantiomers and initial concentration of BINAP-Cu on the specific rate of extraction were investigated. The forward rate constants of the reactions in the reactive extraction process are 7.93 x 10(-5)m(5/2).mol(-1/2).s(-1) for D-Phe and 1.29 x 10(-4)m(5/2).mol(-1/2).s(-1) for L-Phe. (C) 2014 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.