A general strategy for the construction of macrocyclic lactones containing conjugated Z,Z-1,3-diene subunits has been is described. The centerpiece of the strategy is a sequential ring-closing metathesis that forms an unsaturated siloxane ring followed by an intramolecular cross-coupling reaction with a pendant alkenyl iodide. A highly modular assembly of the various precursors allowed the preparation of unsaturated macrolactones containing 11-, 12-, 13-and 14-membered rings. Although the ring closing metathesis process proceeded uneventfully, the intramolecular cross-coupling required extensive optimization of palladium source, solvent, fluoride source and particularly fluoride hydration level. Under the optimal conditions (including syringe pump high dilution), the macrolactones were produced in 53-78% yield as single stereoisomers. A benzo fused 12-membered ring macrolactone containing an E,Z-1,3-diene unit was also prepared by the same general strategy. The E-2-styryl iodide was prepared by a novel Heck reaction of an aryl nonaflate with vinyltrimethylsilane followed by iododesilylation with ICl.