Molecularly　imprinted　monolithic　columns　were　prepared　for　chiral　separation　of　tyrosine　and　its　amino　acid　derivatives　by　in　situ　therm-initiated　copolymerization　of　methacrylic　acid,　4-vinylpyridine　and　ethylene　glycol　dimethacrylate.　The　enantiomers　were　rapidly　separated　on　monolithic　columns　in　less　than　10　min　by　pressurized　capillary　electrochromatography　(pCEC).　The　influences　of　several　parameters　such　as　the　content　of　cross-linking　monomer　on　the　composition　of　the　pre-polymerization　mixture　were　systematically　investigated.　The　influence　of　the　pCEC　conditions　including　the　composition　of　the　mobile　phase　was　also　optimized　to　obtain　the　good　enantioseparation.　It　was　found　that　in　addition　to　molecularly　imprinted　recognition,　chromatographic　retention　and　electrophoretic　migration　play　important　roles　in　the　retention　and　chiral　recognition　of　molecularly　imprinted　polymer　(MIP)　columns.　The　cross-selectivity　for　similar　amino　acids　and　its　derivatives　were　systematical　investigated　for　understanding　the　recognition　mechanism　on　the　MIP　monolithic　columns.　The　results　indicated　that　molecularly　imprinted　polymer　recognizes　the　template　molecule　by　its　molecular　shape　defined　binding　cavity.　(C)　2009　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.