Four new thia-and four new aza-crown ethers were synthesized using the reaction of ethylene glycols ditosylated with 1,1´-(2,2´-dihydroxynaphthyl)sulfide (DNS) and 2,6-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)-4-phenylpyridine in acetonitrile as solvent in the presence of bases (LiOH, NaOH, KOH and Cs 2 CO 3 ). In the synthesis of macrocycles based on DNS, the template effects of alkaline metal ions; Li + , Na + , K + and Cs + on the reaction yields were investigated. Sodium template generally was more effective for the synthesis of all four macrocycles. Relatively, good yields of 15-and 18-membered macrocycles were obtained in the presence of all kinds of applied cations. K + Cation was more effective template ion than Na + in the formation of 18-membered macrocycles due to their larger cavity size compared to the 15-membered cycles. The structures of macrocycles were confirmed by CHN/O analysis, IR, 1 H NMR,
13C NMR and mass spectrometry.