carbenes · cycloisomerization · homogeneous catalysis · metathesisOlefin metathesis (from the Greek word metaqesiz, meaning transposition) is an alkylidene exchange between two reacting fragments mediated by transition-metal alkylidene complexes. [1] Recent decades have seen burgeoning interest in olefin metathesis, resulting in a number of elegant applications. Using this tool, chemists can now efficiently synthesize an impressive range of molecules that only a decade ago required significantly longer and tedious routes.[1] Several types of olefin metathesis have been identified so far; among them, ring-closing metathesis (RCM) and cross-metathesis (CM) have been widely applied in the synthesis of biologically active compounds (Scheme 1). Ring-closing metathesis occurs when a diene undergoes intramolecular metathesis to afford a cyclic olefin. Analogous intramolecular reaction of an enyne is sometimes called enyne cycloisomerization or enyne RCM.[2] Ring-closing metathesis of dienes and enynes represent an attractive and powerful tool for the formation of medium and large cycles (! 5-membered rings). However, it is generally acknowledged that small (three-and fourmembered) and strained rings cannot be formed by RCM.