Poly(gamma-dec-1-enyl-L-glutamate) and poly(gamma-dec-1-enyl-co-gamma-alkyl-L-glutamate), helical polypeptides with pendent, terminal C-C double bonds in the side chains, were crosslinked through an intermolecular olefin metathesis reaction using Grubbs＇ ruthenium catalyst. Polymer samples were crosslinked at a variety of concentrations and with varying content of pendent C-C double bonds. Base promoted hydrolysis of the resulting gels was carried out to determine the nature of the chemical crosslink in the gel.