zinc is employed in the synthesis of a first-generation molecular motor. In another example, the Nicolaou's total synthesis of Taxol uses this reaction, although coupling stops with the formation of a cis-diol, rather than an olefin. Optimized procedures employ the dimethoxyethane complex of TiCl3 in combination with the Zn(Cu). The first porphyrin isomer, porphycene, was synthesised by McMurry coupling. Further reading References External links McMurry reaction in organic-chemistry.org Mcmurry reaction at the University of Sussex Olefination reactions Carbon-carbon bond forming reactions Substitution reactions Name reactions