Abstract
Cyclophane chemistry and the research targets in this area have changed over the past two decades. While the unique electronic and structural properties of cyclophanes are still fascinating, more and more attention is now being paid to the function of the molecules, e.g. to the formation of inclusion complexes of large cyclophanes or intramolecular electron transfer processes in small cyclophanes. The use of [2.2]paracyclophane and its benzoannelated analogues as building blocks for functional devices and their syntheses are described.