Metathesis is nothing but exchange. So metathesis reaction involves the exchange of bonds.  50 years ago when scientists Yves Chauvin, Robert Grubbs and Richard Schrock began their pioneering research into metal-catalysed reactions. Little did they realise that this would be the start of a journey that would culminate in their combined receipt of the 2005 Nobel prize in chemistry. Of course, their famous catalytic reaction in question is known as olefin (or alkene) metathesis. The reaction involves a ruthenium-based metal complex with various substituted ligands. 

 Their combined scientific prowess has advanced chemical research into the commercial realm too. A common desire in industrial chemistry is the creation of useful chemical products from common and cheap reagents. In particular, the formation of carbon–carbon double bonds via olefin metathesis has already been applied to many essential chemistry-enabled industries: from the development of pharmaceuticals, agricultural chemicals, long chained polymers, pheromones or derivatising oleochemicals. The synthetic possibilities are seemingly endless. 

Over the years, olefin metathesis has proved to be a useful synthetic tool in improving reaction productivity, reducing the amount of waste while also increasing the yield of the desirable compound; or opening new reaction pathways that were previously considered impossible. Olefin metathesis opens up new possibilities for greener methods of chemical synthesis with the added bonus of highly active catalysts and potentially reduced energy consumption or carbon footprint.