Preparative methods for and catalytic activities of monoaza-18-crown-6 or monoaza-15-crown-5 in the reaction of 1-bromooctane with aqueous KI or NaI were investigated. Monoazacrown ethers were prepared by debenzylation of N-benzylmonoazacrown ethers, obtained from the reaction of N-benzyldiethanolamine and oligoethylene glycol ditosylate. The phase-transfer catalytic activity of N-benzylmonoazacrown ethers was higher than that of the corresponding monoazacrown ethers.