Condensation of 1,4-naphthoquinone (I) with bis(2-mercaptoethyl) ether (II) produces the bis-(dihydroxynaphthalene) adduct (III), which is spontaneously oxidized to the bis-napthoquinone derivative (IV). Then, cyclization of (IV) with further bis-mercapto ether (II) in DMF under a positive pressure of O2 leads to the target crown ether derivative.