[en] Different strategies for the synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical macrocyclic Schiff bases in the absence of metal ions are considered. General methods for performing macrocyclisation under thermodynamic or kinetic control are analysed. The key factors influencing the structure of macrocyclic azomethines are discussed.

[en] The heat capacities of benzoylferrocene (BOF), C₅H₅FeC₅H₄COC₆H₅, and benzylferrocene (BF), C₅H₅FeC₅H₄CH₂C₆H₅, have been measured by the low-temperature adiabatic calorimetry in the temperature range from 6 K to 372 K. The purity benzylferrocene and thermodynamic properties - the triple point temperature and the enthalpy of fusion have been obtained. The ideal gas thermodynamic functions (changes of the entropy, enthalpy, and Gibbs free energy) of BOF and BF were derived at T = 298.15 K using the heat capacities and previously determined data on the saturation vapours pressures and the enthalpies of sublimation. The ideal gas enthalpy of formation and absolute entropy of BOF at T = 298.15 K have been obtained from quantum chemical calculations, where as the thermodynamic properties of BF have been estimated by empirical method of group equations. A good agreement between experimental and theoretical values provides an additional check of the reliability of the experimental data