Terminal olefins are important building blocks for the industry of biofuels

oligomers

and lubricants production. The industrial processes for production of olefins involving oligomerizationofethylene or cracking of petrochemical waxes have several flaws including low yield and high cost in product separation. Cross-metathesis of bio-derived unsaturated fatty esters and olefins with ethylene (ethenolysis)

allows the conversion of sustainable waste biomass to various renewable olefins with much safer

less toxic

sustainable

and zero-CO

2

emission processes. To our best knowledge

however

a comprehensive summary of key advances in this field (since 2017) is yet to be available

particularly on molecular features of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts. This paper presents a critical review on molecular structures of metal complex and oxide catalysts for ethenolysis of olefins and oleochemicals. The influence of cationic centers

coordination conditions

nature of ligands

operating conditions on catalyst performances will be systematically discussed along with relevant reaction mechanism. The key challenges for rational design of coordinated cationic hybrids have been summarized

which will provide insights to technological advancement of large-scale production of oleochemical-derived olefins.