A process for preparing hydrocarbons having an altered carbon skeleton

A process for preparing hydrocarbons having an altered carbon skeleton by reacting aliphatic hydrocarbons DOLLAR A a) with themselves, DOLLAR A b) with another aliphatic hydrocarbon or DOLLAR A c) with aromatic alkyl-substituted hydrocarbons, DOLLAR A in the presence of an organometallic catalyst or hydride thereof at temperatures of 20 to 400 DEG C and a pressure of 0.2 to 100 bar, by carrying out the reaction in the presence of hydrogen.