Silica-based hybrid molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) monoliths with good chiral recognition ability are synthesized (see figure) using a novel method, a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL)-mediated, non-hydrolytic sol-gel technique. The approach avoids the cracking and shrinking of the bed during drying, which is commonly associated with conventional sol-gel processing, overcomes the shortcomings associated with conventional organicpolymer-based MIP matrices, and offers improved selectivity.