Abstract Macrocyclic crown diamides with 16-or 24-membered rings containing E-and Z- olefinic double bonds were synthesized either by bisalkylation or by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) techniques. The two methods were evaluated and compared with regard to yield and to product stereochemistry. Isomerization of some Z-olefinic macrocycles to their corresponding E-isomers was achieved using Grubbs' catalyst second generation. Some ...