A Methyl Group Effect on the Conformation of Methylated [3.2]Metacyclophan‐10‐enes

The syntheses of 7,13‐dimethyl[3.2]metacyclophan‐10‐ene (5) and 7,10,11,13‐tetramethyl[3.2]metacyclophan‐10‐ene (6) starting from 1,3‐bis(4‐methylphenyl)propane (1) are reported. 5 exists in the anti conformation typical of [3.2]metacyclophan‐enes while 6 prefers the syn conformation because of steric repulsion between the methyl groups at the etheno bridge and at the aromatic rings.