Coupling reaction
In organic chemistry, a coupling reaction is a type of reaction in which two reactant molecules are bonded together. Such reactions often require the aid of a metal catalyst. In one important reaction type, a main group organometallic compound of the type R-M reacts with an organic halide of the type R'-X with formation of a new carbon–carbon bond in the product R-R'. The most common type of coupling reaction is the cross coupling reaction.
Richard F. Heck, Ei-ichi Negishi, and Akira [Suzuki (chemist)|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
- Heterocouplings joining two different partners. These reactions are also called cross-coupling reactions. The product is unsymmetrical,.
Homo-coupling types
Coupling reactions are illustrated by the Ullmann reaction:[Image:Ullmann reaction.svg|class=skin-invert-image|center|350px|Ullmann overview]