Abstract: With the use of an aqueous solvent containing at least water (e.g. water), and at least one organic solvent selected from esters or ketones and separable from the aqueous solvent, the processes of the invention separate (1) an adamantanediol and an adamantanepolyol having three or more hydroxyl groups per molecule, from a group of adamantanepolyols having plural hydroxyl groups per molecule, distributing the former into an organic solvent layer and the latter into an aqueous solvent layer. Further, (2) an adamantanemonool and the group of adamantanepolyols can be separated from a group of adamantanols having at least one hydroxyl group per molecule with using an aqueous solvent (e.g. aqueous solution of acetic acid) for crystallization of the adamantanemonool.

Abstract: Water disintegratability of a tobacco filter is improved by incorporating a super absorbent resin into a tobacco smoke filter medium in a tobacco filter comprising a main constitutive element of the tobacco smoke filter medium, and a water-soluble polymer as a binder for shaping the constitutive element. The constitutive element includes particulate or fibrous cellulose and cellulose esters (e.g. cellulose acetate). The water-absorption ratio of the super absorbent resin is about 10 to 1,000 times, and the amount of the resin is about 0.05 to 50 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of the main constitutive element of the tobacco smoke filter medium.

Abstract: An (S)-1-phenyl-2-substituted propane derivative shown by the following formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a lower alkyl group, etc., or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may form together an alkylene group, etc.; R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 represent a hydrogen atom, etc.; and X represents a hydroxyl group which may be protected with a protective group, or a halogen atom etc., can readily be produced (i) by permitting a microorganism belonging to the genus Torulaspora, the genus Candida, the genus Pichia or the like to act on a phenylacetone derivative and asymmetrically reducing the compound, or (ii) by sterically inverting an (R)-enantiomer. (R,R)-1-phenyl-2-?(2-phenyl-1-methylethyl)amino!ethanol derivative having a high optical purity can easily be obtained from the compound of the formula (I). The ethanol derivative is useful as an anti-obesity agent and the like.