Recent advances in olefin metathesis and its application in organic synthesis

Recent advances in olefin metathesis, focusing on the areas of ring-closing olefin metathesis (RCM) and cross metathesis, are reviewed. Among numerous complexes which show catalytic activities in olefin metathesis, recently developed well-defined [Mo] and [Ru] catalyst systems have proven to be very efficient and tolerant of many functional groups. Examples of RCM are organized into the areas of medium or macrocyclizations, peptide chemistry, tandem ring-opening/ring-closing reactions, and RCM mediated rearrangements. Variation of substrates such as in polymer bound forms has been discussed. Applications of acyclic metathesis and ring-opening cross metathesis are also included.