The liquid-phase extraction performance of phthalonitrile (3 and 4) and isoindoline (5 and 6) substituted calix [4]aren derivatives was studied towards (i) some selected divalent heavy metal cations (i.e Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cu 2+ , Cd 2+ , Hg 2+ , and Pb 2+ ), (ii) dichromate (Cr2O7 2-/HCr2O7 -), and (iii) arsenate (H2AsO4 − /HAsO4 2− ). In general, extraction yield was observed to be higher in the case of compounds 3 and 5 (cone conformation) when compared to 4 and 6 (1,3-alternate conformation). This indicated a somehow positive effect of cone conformation on the extraction performance rather than 1,3-alternate conformation. The stoichiometric ratio between the compound 3 and 4 with mercury picrate was estimated through job's plot analysis method.