Abstract Preparatively satisfactory routes to [3.2] paracyclophane (10),[4.2] paracyclophane (14),[4.3] paracyclophane (19) as well as several derivatives of these compounds–among others the bromides 25, the ester 31, the diesters 40–43–are described using well- established methods of cyclophane chemistry (ring-closure reactions leading to thiacyclophanes, ring contraction by sulfone pyrolysis). The parent systems and their ...