The synthetic progress of bioactive 2,7′-cyclolignans is reviewed. After a short introduction to biosynthesis and chemoenzymatic synthesis, the chemical synthesis of various aryltetralin, dihydronaphthalene and 7′-arylnaphthalene-types of these lignans is demonstrated. Notably, newly developed methods, such as Pd-catalyzed C–H arylation, organocatalysis and photocatalysis under visible-light, are discussed during the construction of their skeleton. These efforts will stimulate further development of novel synthetic strategies for this kind of natural product with important biological activities.