A highly efficient iridium catalyst is developed for the chemoselective reduction of aldehydes to alcohols in water, using formic acid as a reductant.

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) is a representative thermochromic material because of its unique first-order metal–insulator transition (MIT) at 68 °C. However, reducing the MIT temperature and clarifying the modulation relationship between Zr doping concentration and the MIT temperature of VO2 are extremely challenging. Here, we combine first-principles calculations and thermodynamic models to modulate the phase transition behavior of VO2 nanofilms by coupling Zr doping and the thickness-dependent band gap. It is observed that Zr doping causes changes in the structural stability and electronic and optical properties of VO2, which lead to a decrease in the MIT temperature. Comparing the calculated results with the experimental results, we clarify that the Zr doping concentration and MIT temperature of VO2 have a linear modulation relationship. These findings provide a concept for modulating the phase transition of VO2 nanomaterials.

Electronic and magnetic properties of WSe2 monolayer with different nonmagnetic metal and nonmetal dopants have been studied by the DFT method. Nonmagnetic metal (Ag, Al, Li, Mg, and Na) and nonmetal (B, C, F, N, and O) dopants prefer to W and Se substitutions, respectively. Magnetism has been induced by Al doping. Then, we further have considered the effect of strain on the magnetism in Al-doped WSe2 monolayer. We have applied an isotropic strain on the system. On one hand, the magnetism disappears while the compressive strain is applied. On the other hand, the magnetism keeps stable under the tensile strain. Moreover, we also investigate the magnetic coupling in two-Al-doped WSe2 structures under the tensile strain. Interestingly, a tunable magnetic coupling has been observed. As the tensile strain increases, the magnetic coupling of two Al atoms switches from nonmagnetic (NM) to ferromagnetic (FM) due to the p-p hybridization between Al and Se atoms. These fascinating controllable magnetic properties are desired for spintronic applications.

We recently developed a novel Ir-catalyzed dynamic kinetic isomerization reaction for Achmatowicz rearrangement products. In this update, we show that products derived from the Achmatowicz rearrangement can also undergo Ircatalyzed dynamic kinetic allylic etherification in the presence of an appropriate ligand and additive to afford useful intermediates for the synthesis of carbohydrates. The addition of the triphenyl phosphite ligand shuts down the isomerization pathway and promotes the allylic etherification pathway. The addition of diphenyl phosphate improved the diastereoselectivity for the addition reaction. Interestingly, opposite diastereoselectivity was observed for sterically demanding alcohol nucleophiles compared to less sterically demanding alcohol nucleophiles. The method was also applied to the synthesis of several 2,3-dideoxypyranosides.

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