Cyclophanes and ladderanes: Molecular targets for supramolecular chemists

We show that principles of supramolecular chemistry applied in the solid state provide a means to conduct target-oriented molecular syntheses. The syntheses are achieved using molecules that function as linear templates. The templates control molecular organization in the solid state by juxtaposing appropriately functionalized olefins for [2 + 2] photodimerization. We reveal that the linear templates can be used to construct a [2.2]cyclophane and [n]-ladderanes (where n = 3, 5) as targets.