Molecularly imprinted polymers have been prepared against aniline and a bis-aniline compound, making use of a crown ether (18-crown-6) to solubilize the monomer-template complexes, Subsequent chromatographic rebinding studies in the absence of crown ether revealed regioselectivity for the templates in the respective polymers. This study indicates that crown ethers can be potentially useful in conjunction with molecular imprinting to solubilize and imprint organic solvent-insoluble compounds. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.