Solution calorimetry has been employed to evaluate the stability constants and standard-enthalpy changes (DELTA-H-degrees) associated with complex formation between 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) and a group of amine compounds having the diphenylmethyl functionality in aqueous solution at 298.15 K. Data from microcalorimetric titrations of the compounds were analysed using a nonlinear least-squares method. Of the 12 compounds studied, only terfenadine-HCl formed a 1:2 (compound:HP-beta-CD) complex. All the others formed 1:1 complexes. The standard free energy decrease accompanying the formation of inclusion complexes is generally due to a negative DELTA-H-degrees. This exothermic DELTA-H-degrees can be interpreted as indicating that the binding forces for complexation include both the hydrophobic effect and strong van der Waals interactions. When a halogen substituent is in the aromatic ring, stability constants are higher and standard-entropy changes (DELTA-S-degrees) become positive, suggesting greater hydrophobic interaction. Both adiphenine.HCl and proadifen.HCl form more stable complexes. suggesting that hydrogen bonding to the carbonyl oxygen by the hydroxyl-group on the rim of the CD ring could be an important contributor to the complexation. Substitution on the aliphatic carbon of the diphenylmethyl group was also found to be important in determining the ability of compounds to bind with HP-beta-CD. The independence of the thermodynamic constants on the degree of protonation in the case of bifunctional amines indicates that the amine functional groups do not penetrate into the HP-beta-CD cavity.