Evidence for a lowest energy 3MLCT excited state in [Fe(tpy)(CN)3].

Transient absorption data of [FeII(tpy)(CN)3]- reveals spectroscopic signatures indicative of 3MLCT with a ∼10 ps kinetic component. These data are supported by DFT and TD-DFT calculations, which show that excited state ordering is responsive to the number of cyanide ligands on the complex.

Ni-catalysed regioselective 1,2-diarylation of unactivated olefins by stabilizing Heck intermediates as pyridylsilyl-coordinated transient metallacycles.

We report a Ni-catalysed diarylation of unactivated olefins in dimethylpyridylvinylsilane by intercepting Heck C(sp3)-NiX intermediates, derived from aryl halides, with arylzinc reagents. This approach utilizes a modifiable pyridylsilyl moiety as a coordinating group that plays a dual role of intercepting oxidative addition species to promote Heck carbometallation, and stabilizing the Heck C(sp3)-NiX intermediates as transient metallacycles to suppress ß-hydride elimination, and facilitate transmetalation/reductive elimination. This method affords 1,2-diarylethylsilanes, which can be readily oxidized to 1,2-diarylethanols that occur as structural motifs in 3-aryl-3,4-dihydroisocoumarin and dihydrostilbenoid natural products.