The permeability of oxygen and nitrogen was investigated from the polymeric LB films containing imidazole-metal ion complexes and compared with its corresponding cast films on porous membrane filters. The amphiphilic polymer, poly(N- (2-(4-imidazolyl)ethyl)-maleimide-alt-1-octadecene) (IM-O), was synthesized by reaction of poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) with histamine. The IM-O nonolayer showed high stability on Fe (III) ion-containing subphase. The molecular structure in the LB films was investigated by means of FT-IR spectroscopy. The metal ion concentration incorporated into the LB films was determined by means of XPS measurements. The mechanical stability and uniformity of the LB films on porous substrates were indirectly evidenced by SEM observation. The LB and cast films showed more or less higher selectivity toward nitrogen, and high permeability was found to both the oxygen and nitrogen.