It is shown that the heparin antagonist bis-aminoquinoline derivative surfen interacts with sulfated cyclodextrins in a unique fashion. Analysis of the UV spectroscopic data revealed exceptionally strong association (K a ~ 10 7 M -1 ) of several surfen molecules to the external surface of the cyclodextrin hosts. H-bonded to the sulfate groups in 1:1 stoichiometry, the drug molecules form a chiral layer around the macrocycles. Due to the steric proximity, dipole-dipole coupling occurs between the adjacent aminoquinoline rings that accounts for the large UV hypochromism and the induced exciton couplet in the circular dichroism spectra.