Ring-closing metathesis approach to symmetrical and unsymmetrical cycloakeno[c]fused 2,2′-bipyridine-based cyclophanes

Ring-closing metathesis reactions of symmetrical and unsymmetrical cycloalkeno[c]fused 2,2′-bipyridines, substituted at the α and α′ positions of the pyridine rings with sufficiently long alkenyl ethers, afforded 16-membered cyclophanes, possessing variously annulated 2,2′-bipyridine subunits.