High-yielding syntheses of two novelcryptands based on bis(m-phenylene)-26-crown-8 are reported. One-step [2+2] cyclization of methyl 3,5-dihydroxybenzoate with tri(ethylene glycol) ditosylate under pseudo-high-dilution conditions gave BMP26C8 (1) in 28 % yield. Reduction of 1 with LAH, followed by deprotonation (NaH) and alkylation with propargyl bromide, afforded the dialkynated BMP26C8 (3) in high