Ruthenium-based metathesis catalysts with a N-heterocyclic carbene ligand bearing 2, 3, 4, 5-tetraphenylphenyl moieties (1-TPPh and 1-TPPh*) are developed. The highly active catalyst system has been realized in THF by the combination of 1-TPPh* and CuCl as a phosphine scavenger.