The synthesis of crown ethers derived frommeso-tartaric acid was investigated. The sodium salt of the bis(dimethylamide) ofmeso-tartaric acid reacted with diethylene glycol ditosylate to give a mixture of 18-crown-6 tetraamide and 27-crown-9 hexaamide crown ethers. The 2R,3S,11S,12R18-crown-6 isomer crystallized in triclinic space group(a = 7.557(2),b = 8.866(2),c = 10.4133(13) Å, α = 94.13(2), β = 95.86(2), γ = 99.26(2)°,R = 0.040 for 2090 observed of 3129 unique reflections). The structures of the remaining products were then assigned from the NMR spectra. The solution conformations of the amide crown ethers were examined by NMR, and provide a rationale for the product distribution obtained. One of the 18-crown-6 isomers and a mixture of the two 27-crown-9 isomers were hydrolyzed to the respective crown ether carboxylic acids, and the stability constants for complexation of cations were determined by potentiometric titration. Themesotetra- and hexacarboxylates are remarkably nonselective and inefficient cation complexing agents, compared to related crown ethers fromR,R-(+)-tartaric acid, due to the unfavorable conformational control exerted by the tartaro units.Keywords: crown ether synthesis, complexation, crown ether conformation,meso-tartaric acid, crystal structure.