This focus review describes the synthetic routes to cyclic compounds and cyclic polymers via spontaneously occurring cyclization processes using (1) rotaxane chemistry and (2) dynamic covalent chemistry. Systems with rotaxane-based structures proceed via the spontaneous and selective cyclization of two self-complementary molecules and a macromolecular rotaxane switch, which results in a topology change from linear to cyclic. Systems based on dynamic covalent chemistry use exchange reactions of bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)disulfide (BiTEMPS) units. Controlling the dynamic nature of BiTEMPS-based molecules provides cyclic topologies via spontaneously and selectively occurring cyclization processes.