Abstract The syntheses of oligooxa [8.8]-,-[11.11]-,-[14, 14]-,-[17.17]-and-[20.20] cyclophanes with phenothiazine as donor and bipyridinium dication as acceptor are described, together with preparations of the corresponding oligomethylene-[3.3]-and-[4.4] cyclophanes. While the large [8.8]-,[11.11]-and [14.14] cyclophanes in particular show well-defined charge- transfer (CT) absorption maxima, the smallest [3.3] cyclophane does not exhibit any CT ...