The newly modified McMurry reaction toward the improved synthesis of cyclic paraphenylacetylenes

Treatment of stilbenedialdehyde derivatives with low-valent titanium generated in a mixed solvent of DME and toluene favored reductive cyclo-oligomerization to give macrocyclic cyclophanepolyenes in relatively good yields leading to improved or new synthesis of a series of cyclic paraphenylacetylenes ([6] to [9]CPPAs).