The solera system for ageing wines and spirits: A graphical model

El sistema de solera per a la criança de vins i begudes espirituoses és un mètode dinàmic en què el contingut de les botes superiors (més jove) es va mesclant a poc a poc amb el de les botes inferiors (més vell) fins que és embotellat. En aquest article es proposa un mètode gràfic fet amb un full de càlcul que permet visualitzar i seguir l’evolució del temps d’envelliment en tots els nivells del sistema de solera.The solera system for ageing wines and spirits is a dynamic method in which the contents of the upper casks (younger) is slowly mixed with that of the lower casks (older) until it is bottled. In this article, a graphical method generated with a spreadsheet is proposed. The time/age evolution of all levels of the solera system can thus be tracked and visualized

Dynamic assembly of a zinc-templated bifunctional organocatalyst in the presence of water for the asymmetric aldol reaction

A bifunctional organocatalytic system consisting of simple pyridine ligands containing separate catalytic functionalities was assembled using ZnCl2. This novel metal-templated catalyst furnished high yields and stereoselectivities towards the aldol reaction. The addition of controlled amounts of water turned out to be crucial to dissolve the system and achieve optimal results.Financial support from Mineco (CTQ2012-38594-C02-02 and CTQ2012-38543-C03-03), Generalitat de Catalunya (2014 SGR 231) and EU (FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG-321659) is gratefully acknowledged. CJ and JS are Ramón y Cajal fellows (RYC-2010-06750 and RYC-2011-08925). ASP thanks Mineco for a FPI predoctoral fellowship (BES-2013-067087).Peer reviewe

Professor Josep Castells i Guardiola (1925-2018), in memoriam

Montserrat Heras i Ciril Jimeno, editors de la REVISTA DE LA SOCIETAT CATALANA DE QUÍMIC

Water in asymmetric organocatalytic systems: A global perspective

Asymmetric organocatalysis often operates under near ambient conditions, which means it is air and moisture compatible. However, in many examples water is indeed necessary for achieving excellent catalytic results. Ranging from the addition of small amounts of water to a reaction, to complex catalytic systems in the presence of water as the only reaction medium, this review offers an illustrative classification of the uses of water in asymmetric organocatalysis. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016.Financial support from Mineco (Grant CTQ2015-70117-R) and Generalitat de Catalunya (2014 SGR 231) is acknowledgedPeer reviewe

Amino Acylguanidines as Bioinspired Catalysts for the Asymmetric Aldol Reaction

The binding and stabilizing effect of arginine residues in certain aldolases served as inspiring source for the development of a family of amino acylguanidine organocatalysts. Screening and optimization led to identify the threonine derivative as the most suitable catalyst for the asymmetric aldol addition of hydroxyacetone, affording the syn diastereomer in high ee. In contrast, the proline derivative yielded the anti diasteromer. MMFF models suggest the presence of an extensive hydrogen bonding network between the acylguanidinium group and the reaction intermediates.Financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation/Spanish Research Agency (Project RTI2018-096182-B-I00) and Generalitat de Catalunya/AGAUR (Project 2017 SGR 208) is gratefully acknowledged.Peer reviewe