Anisotropic materials with selective binding properties may have potential as active components in optical sensors. A novel route for the synthesis of such materials is described and the validity of the concept has been demonstrated. To this end free radical polymerization of 2-ethyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol trimethacrylate (TRIM) in the presence of a template molecule [4,4′-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone (Michler's ketone)] and binding sites [2-(acrylamido)-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPSA) or methacrylic acid (MAA)] led to molecularly imprinted polymer monoliths. Upon irradiation using linearly polarized light, the template molecules reacted with the polymer networks to form transparent and anisotropic polymer monoliths. The origin of the dichroism is discussed and is believed to result from the incorporation of reactive template molecular species (radicals) into the polymer network. That the polymers are indeed imprinted was confirmed using competitive binding studies. The polymers are size and shape selective but not always in favor of the template molecule.