Olefin metathesis - recent applications in synthesis

Olefin methathesis allows for the catalytic cleavage and formation of C,C m ultiple bonds under mild conditions in the presence of various functional g roups. Whereas ring closing metathesis has been widely used in the synthesi s of cyclic olefins, less applications have been described for other metath esis types, namely cross and ring opening metathesis. The combination of th ese two reactions in domino processes and their application to the synthesi s of complex natural products is described.