First-principles study of the magnetic properties of nitrogen-doped alkaline earth metal oxides

We present a first-principles study of the magnetic properties of N-doped MgO, CaO and SrO, which have been proposed to constitute a new class of dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMSs) with no magnetic elements. In this study, it was found that under a homogeneously distributed condition, Curie temperatures could reach room temperature at sufficient N concentrations in the range of 20–30 at.%; however, an inhomogeneous N distribution in these DMSs is the favored configuration, which indicates that spinodal decomposition leads to a room-temperature blocking temperature at smaller N concentrations than those estimated for room-temperature ferromagnetism in the homogeneous distribution condition.     

Catalytic Reductive Cross-Coupling between Aromatic Aldehydes and Arylnitriles

A reductive cross-coupling reaction between aromatic aldehydes and arylnitriles using a copper catalyst and a silylboronate as a reductant is reported. This protocol represents an unprecedented approach to the chemoselective synthesis of α-hydroxy ketones by electrophile–electrophile cross-coupling.     

Synthesis and optical properties of new conjugated polymers composed of 1,3,4‐thiadiazole and 2,5‐dialkoxybenzene rings

Intramolecular cyclization of precursor polyhydrazides derived from hydrazine and four 2,5‐dialkoxyterephthalic acids by direct polycondensation with Lawesson's reagent afforded new conjugated polymers constituted of 1,3,4‐thiadiazole and 2,5‐dialkoxybenzene units. The polymers emitted bluish green light in solution and green light in solid state in spite of the coexistence of non‐cyclized hydrazide linkage in the backbones, the Stokes shifts being 91–138 nm in the solid state. It was suggested that these polymers have appropriate lengths of conjugation backbones based on the 1,3,4‐thiadiazole moiety.