A new versatile heterogeneous catalyst for olefin metathesis based on rhenium (VII) oxide supported on organized mesoporous alumina was developed. This catalyst is suitable for metathesis of linear olefins, alpha-, omega-dienes as well as ring-opening metathesis polymerization of cycloalkenes and cross-metathesis of cycloolefins with linear olefins. This catalyst was found to operate under mild reaction conditions and its activity was much higher than that of corresponding catalyst based on conventional alumina. Catalyst can be used repeatedly and can be easily reactivated. Influence of the catalyst pore size on activity as well as selectivity in individual methathesis reactions was established. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.