Olefin cross-metathesis between -methylene--butyrolactone and terminal olefins is described. Moderate to excellent yields of -alkylidene--butyrolactones were obtained with high E-stereoselectivity in the presence of low catalyst loading in refluxing CH2Cl2. In addition, the useof various additives was found to have a dramatic effect on the efficiency of the cross-metathesis (CM) process by circumventing the formationof the isomerized byproduct.