This invention relates to A crown ether of formula (I) wherein m is 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 and i is, independently for each occurrence, 1 or 2 at least one occurrence in the crown ether of R, R and the carbon to which R and R are attached, said carbon being bound directly to an ether oxygen of formula (I), form together a group of formula (II) wherein L is a linker which is absent or selected from a covalent bond and (CRR), useful as carriers for pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions.