[4.n]Cyclophanes

This work presents the main methods of synthesis for [4.n]cyclophanes and reveals the possibilities to use common methods or peculiar ones in order to obtain more efficient access to different cyclophanes which exhibit a four membered bridge. The conformational behavior of [4.n]cyclophanes involving the flexibility of the bridges and the rotational behavior of the aromatic rings is discussed in correlation with the length of the bridges and with the nature of the aromatic rings. The complexation ability of the named cyclophanes, their reactivity and applications are also discussed.