Abstract
Metathesis of cyclic alkanes catalyzed by the new surface complex [(SiO)W(Me)(5)] affords a wide distribution of cyclic and macrocyclic alkanes. The major products with the formula CnH2n are the result of either a ring contraction or ring expansion of cyclooctane leading to lower unsubstituted cyclic alkanes (5n7) and to an unprecedented distribution of unsubstituted macrocyclic alkanes (12n40), respectively, identified by GC/MS and by NMR spectroscopies.