Methods for cross-methathesis of terminal olefins

A method for the cross-metathesis of terminal olefins is disclosed. The method describes making disubstituted internal olefin products by contacting a first terminal olefin with another first terminal olefin to form a dimer and then contacting the dimer with a second terminal olefin in the presence of a catalyst having the formula ##STR1## where M may be Os or Ru, R and R.sup.1 may be the same or different and may be hydrogen or a substitutent group selected from C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkynyl, aryl, C.sub.1 C.sub.20 carboxylate, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkoxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkenyloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkynyloxy, aryloxy, C.sub.2 -C.sub.20 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylsulfonyl, and C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkylsulfinyl. X and X.sup.1 may be the same or different and may be any anionic ligand. L and L.sup.1 may be the same or different and may be any neutral electron donor.

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