A number of non-proteinogenic amino acids bearing aliphatic side chains were resolved with moderate to good enantioselectivities (E = 15–42) through the Burkholderia cepacia lipase-catalyzed enantioselective transesterification of the 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl esters of their N-benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives with methanol as a nucleophile in diisopropyl ether.Key words: non-proteinogenic amino acids, microbial lipases, Burkholderia cepacia lipase, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ester, enantioselective transesterification, enantioselectivity.