The complexation properties toward Hg(II) of six macrocyclic ligands, 3,11-dithia-7,17-diazabicyclo[11.3.1]heptadeca-1(17),13,15-triene (L1), 7-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-3,11-dithia-7,17-diazabicyclo[11.3.1]heptadeca-1 (17),13,15-triene (L2), 7-(10-methyl-9-anthracenylmethyl)-3,11-dithia-7,17-diazabicyclo[11.3.1]h eptadeca-1(17),13,15-triene (L3), 7,7'-[9,10-anthracenediylbis(methylene)]bis-3,11-dithia-7,17-diazabicycl o[11.3.1]heptadeca-1(17),13,15-triene (L4), 1,4,7-trithia-11-azacyclotetradecane (L5), and 11,-(anthracen-9-ylmethyl)-1,4,7-trithia-11-azacyclotetradecane (L6), were studied. The stoichiometries of the formed species were determined from absorption and fluorescence titrations. In these anthracene-containing macrocycles, a fluorescent quenching of the emission was found upon Hg(II) addition. The X-ray crystal structure of [HgCl2(L-2)]center dot 1/2CH(2)Cl(2) was determined. The asymmetric unit contains two independent [HgCl2(L-2)] molecules and one dichloromethane molecule. Each Hg(II) ion is coordinated by the pyridine nitrogen, the two sulfur atoms of one L2 molecule, and two chloride ions. Analytical studies using solvent extraction separation of Hg(II) from aqueous solutions were performed to determine the Hg(II) extraction capability of ligands L1, L2, and L5.