Recent visible light and metal free strategies in [2+2] and [4+2] photocycloadditions

When aiming to synthesize molecules with elevated molecular complexity starting from relatively simple starting materials, photochemical transformations represent an open avenue to circumvent analogous multistep procedures. Specifically, light-mediated cycloadditions remain as powerful tools to generate new bonds begotten from non-very intuitive disconnections, that alternative thermal protocols would not offer. In response to the current trend in both industrial and academic research pointing towards green and sustainable processes, several strategies that meet these requirements are currently available in the literature. This Minireview summarizes [2+2] and [4+2] photocycloadditions that do not require the use of metal photocatalysts by means of alternative strategies. It is segmented according to the cycloaddition type in order to give the reader a friendly approach and we primarily focus on the most recent developments in the field carried out using visible light, a general overview of the mechanism in each case is offered as wellFinancial support was provided by the European Research Council (ERC-CoG, Contract Number: 647550), the Spanish Government (RTI2018-095038-B-I00), the ‘Comunidad de Madrid’ and European Structural Funds (S2018/NMT-4367). R. I. R thanks Fundación Carolina for a graduate fellowshi

The Eleventh and Twelfth Data Releases of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: Final Data from SDSS-III

The third generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III) took data from 2008 to 2014 using the original SDSS wide-field imager, the original and an upgraded multi-object fiber-fed optical spectrograph, a new near-infrared high-resolution spectrograph, and a novel optical interferometer. All of the data from SDSS-III are now made public. In particular, this paper describes Data Release 11 (DR11) including all data acquired through 2013 July, and Data Release 12 (DR12) adding data acquired through 2014 July (including all data included in previous data releases), marking the end of SDSS-III observing. Relative to our previous public release (DR10), DR12 adds one million new spectra of galaxies and quasars from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) over an additional 3000 deg2 of sky, more than triples the number of H-band spectra of stars as part of the Apache Point Observatory (APO) Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE), and includes repeated accurate radial velocity measurements of 5500 stars from the Multi-object APO Radial Velocity Exoplanet Large-area Survey (MARVELS). The APOGEE outputs now include the measured abundances of 15 different elements for each star. In total, SDSS-III added 5200 deg2 of ugriz imaging; 155,520 spectra of 138,099 stars as part of the Sloan Exploration of Galactic Understanding and Evolution 2 (SEGUE-2) survey; 2,497,484 BOSS spectra of 1,372,737 galaxies, 294,512 quasars, and 247,216 stars over 9376 deg2; 618,080 APOGEE spectra of 156,593 stars; and 197,040 MARVELS spectra of 5513 stars. Since its first light in 1998, SDSS has imaged over 1/3 of the Celestial sphere in five bands and obtained over five million astronomical spectra. \ua9 2015. The American Astronomical Society

Caracterización del regadío en la zona regable del Valle de Lemos (Lugo, España)

The first step towards the implementation of performance of the actions envisaged in the National Irrigation Plan (NIP) is to analyse water use in traditional irrigation. Moreover, the social impacts of irrigation on rural areas must be evaluated, and the common irrigation practices must be determined. This paper presents the results of a study conducted in the Lemos Valley irrigation district (Lugo, Spain). Irrigation evaluations were conducted in nine trial sites, representing the existing soil types. A sample of irrigation users were interviewed to gather information about water use, land tenure and irrigation socioeconomics. This irrigation district is characterised by low water use efficiency, significant losses in the distribution network, fragmented land ownership and a poor use of the available infrastructure. Yet, water availability and an important distribution network render the modernisation of this traditional irrigated land a challenging task that must be faced.El primer paso en la aplicación del Plan nacional de Regadíos (PNR) debe ser el análisis del uso del agua en los regadíos tradicionales. Para ello nos interesa definir las prácticas de riego habituales y evaluar la incidencia social del regadío en el ámbito rural. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados obtenidos en el estudio realizado en la zona regable del Valle de Lemos (Lugo, España). Se ha realizado una encuesta de campo incluyendo aspectos técnicos y sociales, así como evaluaciones de riego en parcelas de ensayo repartidas entre las clases de suelos existentes. Esta zona se caracteriza por una baja eficiencia en el uso del agua, unas pérdidas importantes en la red de distribución, una estructura atomizada de la propiedad y un escaso aprovechamiento de las infraestructuras existentes. A pesar de estos inconvenientes, la existencia de una importante red de distribución y la disponibilidad de agua hacen de la modernización de este regadío tradicional un reto que debemos afrontar

Sensitive spectrophotometric assay of simvastatin in pharmaceuticals using permanganate

Two simple, sensitive, selective and inexpensive spectrophotometric methods are described for the determination of simvastatin (SMT) in bulk drug and in tablets using permanganate as the oxidimetric reagent. In method A, SMT is treated with a measured excess of permanganate in acetic acid medium and the unreacted oxidant is measured at 550 nm, whereas in method B the reaction is carried out in alkaline medium and the resulting manganate is measured at 610 nm. In method A, the amount of permanganate reacted corresponds to the SMT content and the absorbance is found to decrease linearly with the concentration; and in method B, the absorbance increases with concentration. The working conditions of assays were optimized, and the methods were validated according to the current ICH guidelines. Under optimum conditions, SMT could be assayed in the concentration ranges, 1.47 - 17.67x10-5 and 2.27 - 27.18 x10-6 mol/L by method A and method B, respectively. The calculated molar absorptivities are 3.2 x 10³ and 2.5 x 10(4) L/mol/cm for method A and method B, respectively with corresponding Sandell sensitivity values of 0.0387 and 0.0178 &#956;g/cm². The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) have also been reported. Accuracy and precision for the assay were determined by calculating the intra-day and inter-day at three concentrations; the intra-day RSD was < 2% and the accuracy was better than 2.15 % (RE). The methods were applied successfully for the determination of SMT in tablet dosage form with a high percentage of recovery, good accuracy and precision, and without measurable interference by the excipients. The accuracy was further ascertained from placebo and synthetic mixture analysis and also from the spike-recovery method.<br>Dois métodos espectrofotométricos simples, sensíveis, seletivos e baratos são descritos para a determinação de sinvastatina (SMT) a granel e em comprimidos, utilizando permanganato como reagente oxidimétrico. No método A, a SMT é tratada com excesso conhecido de permanganato em meio de ácido acético e o oxidante que não reage é medido a 550 nm, enquanto no método B, a reação é efetuada em meio alcalino e o manganato resultante é medido a 610 nm. No método A, a quantidade de permanganato que reage corresponde ao conteúdo de SMT e a absorbância diminui linearmente com o aumento da concentração; no método B, a absorbância aumenta com o aumento da concentração. As condições de trabalho do ensaio foram otimizadas e os métodos, validados de acordo com as normas do ICH. Sob condições ótimas, a SMT pode ser ensaiada nas faixas de concentração de 1,47- 17,67x10-5 e de 2,27-27,18 x10-6 mol/L pelo método A e B, respectivamente. As absortividades molares calculadas são 2 x 10³ e 2,5 x 10(4) L/ mol/cm, respectivamente, para os métodos A e B, com os valores correspondentes de sensibilidade de Sandell de 0,0387 e 0,0178 &#956;g/cm². Os limites de detecção (LOQ) também foram relatados. A exatidão e a precisão do ensaio foram determinadas pelo cálculo de três concentrações intra- e inter-dia; a RSD intra-dia foi <2% e a exatidão foi melhor que 2,15% (RE). Os métodos foram aplicados com sucesso à determinação de SMT em comprimidos com alta porcentagem de recuperação, boa exatidão e precisão e sem interferência mensurável dos excipientes. A exatidão foi posteriormente determinada no placebo e na mistura sintética e, também, pelo método de spike recovery