Ruthenium alkylidene 1 has been utilized in the tandem ring opening-ring closing metathesis of cyclic olefins, This reaction produces a bicyclic molecule from a cyclic olefin. Reactivity is dependent upon strain, and thus ring size, in the substrate molecules. Competing oligomerization is observed in substrates having low ring strain; this process is inhibited by increasing dilution of the reaction or by adding alkyl substitution to the acyclic olefins.