Selective recognition of alkali and alkaline earth metal ion pairs viz.Li+, Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ is of great biological importance. Design and synthesis of ionophores and receptor molecules capable of selectively binding and transporting substrates (neutral and ionic) are based on molecular recognition and used to develop membrane separation systems. This has potential applications in analytical, environmental, and biomimetic chemistry. We have designed and synthesized new series of anthraquinone derived single and double armed ionophores. Supermolecules have been isolated with these synthetic podands as host and metal ions as guest. Interaction has been confirmed by melting point (m.p.), infrared red (IR), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectral analysis and cyclic voltammetric studies. Further, the liquid liquid extraction, bulk liquid membrane (BLM) transport, and supported liquid membrane (SLM) transport studies using polytetrafloroethylene membrane, cellulose nitrate membrane, onion membrane and egg shell membrane, have been done to find out the selectivity of these ionophores for various metal ions. Among the two liquid membrane systems used SLMs is more efficient than BLMs. It is found that double armed and bridged ionophores (A3 to A8) show better extraction ability than single armed ionophores (A1, A2) and ionophore A3 is calcium selective.