Abstract A variety of achiral and chiral macrocyclic oligomalonates were synthesised in a one-step procedure through condensation of malonyl dichloride with α, ω-diols. We have investigated the applicability of this method by varying the length and type of the spacers in the diol. Product distribution analysis revealed that the preferential formation of monomeric, dimeric, or trimeric macrocyclic malonates can be controlled by choosing diols with ...