Condensation of [1.11 diazacoronand and diethylene glycol bis (methanesu1fonate) as well as with its alkylsubstituted derivatives in the presence of 1 molar equiv of BuLi or KH gives the corresponding [H+ c (lll)] X-cryptates in 3143% yields. Experimental results indicate that in the intermediate monosubstituted diazacoronand, the NH hydrogen plays a templating role, thus favoring the bicyclic ring closure by intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Similar ...