Metathesis of functional olefins

A process for metathesizing an olefin having at least one terminal functional group wherein said terminal functional group is selected from groups having the formulas ##STR4## and O--Z wherein Z is selected from a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, a hydrocarbyloxy group having from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and hydrogen, which comprises contacting said olefin at metathesis conditions with a catalyst comprising:

• (a) an oxide, chloride or bromide of a transition metal selected from tungsten, molybdenum and rhenium, (b) an organometallic compound based on an element selected from aluminum, tin, lead, magnesium and titanium, in combination with an alkyl group, and (c) an oxophilic agent having a metal-oxygen bond strength greater than the metal-oxygen bond strength of said transition metal and wherein said oxophilic agent is selected from compounds having a formula M--X wherein M is selected from zirconium, samarium, lanthanum and mixtures thereof, and X comprises one or more organic or inorganic species which in combination neutralize M.