Aname reaction (ornamed reaction) is achemical reaction named after its discoverer(s) or developer(s). Among the tens of thousands oforganic reactions that are known, hundreds of such reactions are typically identified by theeponym.[1] Well-known examples include theGrignard reaction, theSabatier reaction, theWittig reaction, theClaisen condensation, theFriedel–Crafts acylation, and theDiels–Alder reaction. Books have been published devoted exclusively to name reactions;[2][3][4] theMerck Index, a chemical encyclopedia, also includes an appendix on name reactions.
As organic chemistry developed during the 20th century, chemists started associating synthetically useful reactions with the names of their discoverers or developers. In many cases, the name is merely a mnemonic.[2] Some reactions such as thePummerer rearrangement,[3] thePinnick oxidation and theBirch reduction[3] are named for people other than their discoverers, but this situation is not common.
Although systematic approaches for naming reactions based on the reaction mechanism or the overall transformation exist, such as theIUPAC nomenclature for organic chemical transformations, these technically-descriptive names are often unwieldy or not specific enough, so people names are often more practical for efficient communication.[5]
