The term originally applied to compounds having two
p-phenylene groups held face to face by
–[CH2]n–
bridges. It now designates compounds having (i)
mancude-ring systems, or assemblies of
mancude-ring systems, and (ii) atoms and/or saturated or unsaturated chains as alternate components of
a large ring. E.g. [2.2](1,4)(1,4)cyclophane [or 1(1,4),4(1,4)-dibenzenacyclohexaphane].
Many chemists include in this class any bridged aromatic system, irrespective of the
attachment positions of the
bridge.
Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 1307
(Glossary of class names of organic compounds and reactivity intermediates based on
structure (IUPAC Recommendations 1995))
on page 1330