Circular dichroism (CD) methods have been employed to study molecular recognition phenomena in water soluble cyclophane hosts such as 1 and 2. The CD method is well suited to these systems and produces results that complement and expand upon previous NMR studies. The CD method operates at lower concentrations, allowing determinations of larger binding constants. Most importantly, when data concerning induced CD observed on binding achiral guests are analyzed using INDO/S coupled-oscillator calculations, valuable information concerning the binding conformations of the guest is obtained.