This study examines the role of steric hindrance near the stereogenic centers of four glutamic acid based polymeric surfactants. The single amino acid surfactants of glutamic acid, glutamic acid methyl ester, glutamic ethyl ester, and glutamic acid tertbutyl ester were investigated. The micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) separation of three binaphthyl derivatives and three benzodiazepines were used to study these steric factors. In addition, the hydrophobicity of these polymers as a function of pH was investigated by use of fluorescence measurements.