The ion-pair extraction of alkali metal ion (M +) complexes of the crown ethers (L), i.e., 18-crown-6 (18C6), benzo-18-crown-6 (B18C6) and dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 (DCH18C6), with picrate ion (Pic −) into 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) has been studied at 25.0°C. From an analysis of the distribution results, the thermodynamic formation constants of ML +, K comp,o 0, and ML 2 +, K comp(2),o 0, complexes in 1,2-DCE were evaluated. The K comp,o 0 value in 1,2-DCE, having very low solvating ability, is quite high as compared to that in solvating solvents and increases in the order dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) < B18C6 < 18C6 < DCH18C6 for a given metal ion and Li + < Na + < K + > Rb + > Cs + for any crown ether. Their differences both among crown ethers and among large metal ions, i.e., K +, Rb + and Cs +, are large compared to those in solvating solvents. The K comp(2),o 0 value in 1,2-DCE is in the order of Rb + < Cs + in contrast to Rb + > Cs + for K comp,o 0 and increases in the order DCH18C6 < 18C6 < B18C6 < DB18C6 in contrast to a reverse sequence for K comp,o 0.