Department of Chemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061 bis (p-Phenylene)-32-crown-4 (6), a hydrophobic macrocycle containing two decamethylene spacers, is a potentially important cyclic component of polyrotaxanes.'-3 Herein we report an improved, four-step synthesis of 6, relative to the previous one-step method4 (5 to 7% yield). 1, lO-bis (p-Formy1phenoxy) decane (3) was prepared in 94% ...