The bridging of two hydroxy groups at adjacent aromatic rings by a pentaethyleneglycol unit is favored over the bridging of two hydroxy groups at opposite aromatic rings. The presence of a sodium base enhances the formation of the 1,2-crown[n]cavitand and improves the yield. The combination of 1,2-crown[6]cavitands with calix[4]arenes or resorcin[4]arenes resulted in potentialreceptormolecules with