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This reaction is an extension of Wurtx reaction for the preparation of alkyl-aryls. This reation involves the treatment of halogen derivatives of benzene with metallic sodium in dry ether when alkyl-aryls are formed. This reaction is also called coupling reaction.

This reaction is named after a German chemist, Wilhelm Rudolph Fittig in 1855. He modified the Wurtz reaction in which instead of alkyl halides even aryl halides can undergo Wurtz reaction to form alkylated aromatic hydrocarbons. Thus, the reaction is named as Wurtz-Fittig Reaction.

The general form of Wurtz-fittig reaction is,

The mechanism of Wurtz-Fittig reaction is not certain. However the mechanism of Wurtz-Fittig reaction is postulated as below.