The method of low temperature ESR spectroscopy was used to study the free radicals generated by -irradiation of crown ethers: 12-crown-4 /1/; 15-crown-5 /2/; dicyclohexane-24-crown-8 /3/; and their analogues: tetrahydrofurane /4/ and 1,4-dioxane /5/. ESR spectra of radicals 4 and 5 taken at 77 K represent a simple singlet; ESR spectra of radicals generated from 1, 2 and 3 have a complex, multiplet structure. The kinetics of thermal decay of free radicals 4 in dependence on temperature starting from 103 K was investigated. The radicals 4 decay very fast at 253 K.