Richard F. Heck was an American chemist known for his significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2010 for developing the Heck reaction, a method that allows for the coupling of alkenes with aryl halides. This reaction has become a fundamental tool in the synthesis of complex organic molecules. Born on August 15, 1931, in Springfield, Massachusetts, Heck spent much of his career as a professor at University of Delaware. His work has had a lasting impact on both academic research and industrial applications, influencing the development of pharmaceuticals and other chemical products.