Problems and exercisesThe Heck reaction
Exercise 1
What product is obtained in the Heck reaction of bromobenzene with styrene? And with acrylonitrile? Explain the regiochemistry and geometry.
Exercise 2
What is the role of triethylamine in the Heck reaction? What would happen with an alkene lacking hydrogens on the carbon that receives palladium, such as methyl 2-methylacrylate?