A general synthesis of 1, 2-dialkoxyacenaphthylenes by dehydrogenation of the corresponding acenaphthene derivatives with high potential quinones is described. The new crown ether, 2, 3, 11, 12-bis (1, 2-acenaphtho)-[18] crown-6, 1, is obtained by this route. The surprisingly poor complexing ability of 1 is ascribed to electronic and geometrical effects of the acenaphthylene rings as shown by spectroscopic and voltammetric data and the ...