The complexing (in CHCl3) and extracting abilities of 18-crown-6 type compounds (1-15) were measured with Li, Na, K and NH4 cations. The substituents on the sugar part affected these properties significantly (K-a = 10(3)-10(7)). Some substituents, like acetyloxy groups (3) decreased whereas others, like tosyloxy groups (10, 11) significantly increased the complexing ability and thus changed the selectivity. The compound with four tosyloxy groups (11) shows an excellent picrate salt extracting ability in a CH2Cl2-water system.