Coupling reaction
Type of reaction in organic chemistry
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Richard F. Heck, Ei-ichi Negishi, and Akira Suzuki were awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing palladium-catalyzed cross coupling reactions.
Broadly speaking, two types of coupling reactions are recognized:
- Homocouplings joining two identical partners. The product is symmetrical R−R
- Heterocouplings joining two different partners. These reactions are also called cross-coupling reactions. The product is unsymmetrical, R−R'.
Homo-coupling types
Coupling reactions are illustrated by the Ullmann reaction:
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Cross-coupling types
Applications
Coupling reactions are routinely employed in the preparation of pharmaceuticals. Conjugated polymers are prepared using this technology as well.