The groundwork for the Stille reaction was laid in 1976 and 1977 by Colin Eaborn , Toshihiko Migita , and Masanori Kosugi , who explored numerous palladium catalyzed couplings involving organotin reagents . John Stille and David Milstein developed a much milder and more broadly applicable procedure in 1978 . Stille 's work on this area might have earned him a share of the 2010 Nobel Prize , which was awarded to Richard Heck , Ei-ichi Negishi , and Akira Suzuki for their work on the Heck , Negishi , and Suzuki coupling reactions . However , Stille died in the plane crash of United Airlines Flight 232 in 1989
United Airlines Flight 232
United Airlines Flight 232
Stille reaction