The dibenzo[3n]crown-n were synthesised from1,2-bis(o-hydroxyphenoxy)ethane obtained from 1,2-bis(o-formylphenoxy)ethane via Bayer-Willigeroxidations with H2O2/CH3COOH in good yields. The cyclic condensation of 1,2-bis(o-hydroxyphenoxy)ethanewith dichlorides, and ditosylates of polyethylene glycols in DMF/Me2CO3 gave the macrocyclesdibenzo[15]crown-5, dibenzo[18]crown-6, dibenzo[21]crown-7 anddibenzo[24]crown-8. The structures were identified using IR, mass, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Therecognition of the molecules for the cations, Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ and Zn2+were conducted quantitatively with steady state fluorescencespectroscopy. The 1:1 association constants in acetonitrileshowed a good relation of the appropriate size of the macrocyclic ether towards the fitting cationradii. Namely, dibenzo[15]crown-5 was the best for Li+ binding and more than 100 times better thanNa+ and K+. Dibenzo[21]crown-7 was excellent for Rb+ binding while K+ is 100 timesless preferred. The largest crown ether studied, dibenzo[24]crown-8, exhibited the order of binding power,Rb+ > K+ > Na+. Zn2+ displayed, however, a marked binding with only dibenzo[18]crown-6.p>