In boost 1.33.1, in the file tools/build/v1/python.jam, there was a section specific to AIX that provided a link option specifying an import list.

    else if $(OS) = AIX
    {
        PYTHON_PROPERTIES
          += <*><*><linkflags>"-Wl,-bI:$(PYTHON_LIB_PATH)/python.exp"
            <*><*><find-library>pthreads ;
    }

There is no equivalent in the python.jam from Boost Build V2.  

I have been experimenting with different combinations to produce a similar behavior from BBv2.    This is what I came up with, and appears to work.  

        # On AIX we need Boost.Python and Python extensions to import symbols from the python interpreter
        # since libraries opened with dlopen() do not inherit symbols from the Python interpreter itself
       if $(target-os) = aix
        {
           alias python_for_extensions
                        :
                        : $(target-requirements)
                        :
                        : $(usage-requirements) <linkflags>-bI:$(libraries[1])/python.exp
                        ;
        }

I initially tried "$(usage-requirements) <linkflags>-Wl,-bI:$(libraries)/python.exp"  but that gave me
" -bI:/usr/lib/python.exp -bI:/usr/lib/python2.4/config/python.exp "

However, $(usage-requirements) <linkflags>-bI:$(libraries[1])/python.exp gave me what I wanted which is  -bI:/usr/lib/python2.4/config/python.exp.

Unfortunately, I am all that comfortable with the new build system and hoping for some suggestions

Chris Cambly
XL C++ Compiler Development