Definition of cyclophanes

1. The term originally applied to compounds having two p-phenylene groups held face to face by -[CH2]n- bridges. It now designates compounds having (i) mancude-ring systems, or assemblies of mancude-ring systems, and (ii) atoms and/or saturated or unsaturated chains as alternate components of a large ring. GNOC Recom. R-2.4.5. Many chemists include in this class any bridged aromatic system, irrespective of the attachment positions of the bridge. E.g. [2.2](1,4)(1,4)cyclophane or 1(1,4),4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane according to the provisional CNOC document on Phane Nomenclature, Part 1.

   F.N. Diederich, Cyclophanes, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 1991.