Metal ion specific template ligand sites were developed by physically immobilizing dithizone molecules oriented according to a particular complex geometry in various polymeric films. Four polymeric systems, polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl chloride), and polycarbonate, were used for making template sites for Cu2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, and Co2+ ions. A high degree of specificity could be achieved independent of stability constants, though about half of the ligand sites were unavailable to the metal ions.