Olefin metathesis: Catalyst development, microwave catalysis, and domino applications

Olefin metathesis, a process by which alkylidene groups on alkenes are exchanged, is reviewed with reference to the historical development of functional catalysts and microwave catalysis. The advent of new catalysts and improved reaction conditions has paved the way for the development of new and versatile domino processes that combine either different metathesis events or a key metathesis reaction with another reaction in a particularly atom economic and ' green' sense. We review this area as a convenient route to some otherwise difficult to prepare systems.