Abstract: Optically active ?-phenylalanine compound may be prepared in an industrially advantageous manner by reacting an N-acyl-?-phenylalanine compound with a specific optically resolving agent to effect an optical resolution by formation of diastereomer salts, and removing the optically resolving agent from each diastereomer, to give an optically N-acyl-?-phenylalanine compound. Deacylation may be further carried out to obtain an optically active ?-phenylalanine compound.

Abstract: Subjecting N-acetyl-?-phenylalanine to an optical resolution by a preferential crystallization method is effective for preparing an optically active N-acetyl-?-phenylalanine. It is also possible to prepare an optically active ?-phenylalanine in a simple and efficient manner, by deacylating the optically active N-acetyl-?-phenylalanine.

Abstract: Optically active ?-phenylalanine compound may be prepared in an industrially advantageous manner by reacting an N-acyl-?-phenylalanine compound with a specific optically resolving agent to effect an optical resolution by formation of diastereomer salts, and removing the optically resolving agent from each diastereomer, to give an optically N-acyl-?-phenylalanine compound. Deacylation may be further carried out to obtain an optically active ?-phenylalanine compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel bisphosphine compound having a chiral center on the phosphorus atom, which is suitable as a ligand for an asymmetric catalyst for use in asymmetric hydrogenation, this bisphosphine compound being represented by the following formula (1): (where t—C8H17 denotes 1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl), and a process for the production of this bisphosphine compound. Also provided are a transition metal complex having this bisphosphine compound as a ligand, and a process for the asymmetric hydrogenation of an unsubstituted carboxylic acid or its ester.

Abstract: A method of producing a bisphosphine oxide by performing a koble electrolysis coupling reaction to a phosphine oxide carboxylic acid represented by the general formula (1): wherein the bisphosphine oxide is represented by the following general formula (2):

Abstract: An optically active 1-phenylethylamine is reacted to a phosphine oxide carboxylic acid of a racemic modification shown by the following general formula (2): and a produced diastereomeric salt is separated using the difference in solubility against a solvent, which is subsequently decomposed by acid, so as to free and separate an optically active phosphine oxide carboxylic acid.

Abstract: Reacting a lead tetraacetate with an optically active phosphine oxide carboxylic acid represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR1## in order to obtain an optically active vinyl phosphine oxide represented by the following general formula (2): ##STR2##

Abstract: A process for preparing optically active 2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid by resolving (RS)-2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid via crystallization of an optically active amine salt, where the amine is optically active cis-1-amino-2-indanol salt, optically active .alpha.-methylbenzylamine salt, or optically active 3-methyl-2-phenyl-1-butylamine salt.

Abstract: An optical resolution method of (.+-.)-3,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid, by reacting (.+-.)-3,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid with an optically active primary amine or secondary amine. Also a method for producing optically active 3-hydroxy-.gamma.-butyrolactone, by reacting (.+-.)-3,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid with an optically active primary amine or secondary amine for optical resolution, and ring closing the resulting optically active 3,4-dihydroxybutanoic acid.

Abstract: A compound selected from the group consisting of(a) optically active 2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid cis-1-amino-2-indanol salt,(b) optically active 2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid .alpha.-methylbenzylamine salt,(c) optically active 2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid 3-methyl-2-phenyl-1-butylamine salt,(d) a salt of (S)-2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid with (1R, 2S)-(+)-cis-1-amino-2-indanol,(e) a salt of (R)-2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid with (1S, 2R)-(-)-cis-1-amino-2-indanol,(f) a salt of (R)-2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid with (S)-(-)-.alpha.-methylbenzylamine,(g) a salt of (S)-2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid with (R)-(+)-.alpha.-methylbenzylamine,(h) a salt of (S)-2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid with (S)-(-)-3-methyl-2-phenyl-1-butylamine, and(i) a salt of (R)-2-hydroxymethyl-3-phenylpropionic acid with (R)-(+)-3-methyl-2-phenyl-1-butylamine.

Abstract: Provided is a process for separating (S)- or (R)-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid from a mixture of (S)- and (R)-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid, which comprises (1) reacting the mixture of (S)- and (R)-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid with (S)- or (R)-3-methyl-2-phenylbutylamine in a suitable solvent to form a diastereomer salt of (S)-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid with (S)-3-methyl-2-phenylbutylamine or a diastereomer salt of (R)-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid with (R)-3-methyl-2-phenylbutylamine; (2) separating the diastereomer salt from the reaction mixture; and (3) liberating the separated diastereomer salt to give (S)- or (R)-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid. According to the present process, it is possible to obtain optically active (S)- or (R)-2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid having 99% or more of high optical purity in a high yield. Thus, the present process is a practical and efficient process which can simplify purification steps and can be applied for an industrial production process.

Abstract: An optically active compound of the formula (I) according to claim 1 is suitable as a component for a liquid crystal composition providing improved response speed. The optically active compound of the formula (I) is characterized by having a fluorine-substituted optically active cite and ##STR1## group connected by 1-6 methylene groups. The above liquid crystal composition is useful as an element of a liquid crystal device and a display apparatus providing a good display characteristics.

Abstract: Process for preparing optically active 2-piperazine-carboxylic acid derivatives, particularly S-enantiomer thereof, in high yield and high optical purity on industrial scale. As the optical resolving agents, easily accessible sulfonamides derived from selected optically active amino acids, such as N-tosyl-L-phenylalanine, N-tosyl-D-phenylglycine, N-tosyl-L-alanine or N-tosyl-L-valine, give excellent results. These resolving agents are stable and easily recovered from the reaction mixture and reused. Resolved 2-piperazinecarboxylic acid derivatives are preferably isolated as 4-t-butoxycarbonyl (Boc) derivatives. Diastereomeric salts (an example being shown below) formed as the intermediates of resolution are novel. ##STR1## ?In the formula "Ar" stands for a phenyl or naphthyl group which may be substituted with one to three C1-C6 alkyl groups, halogen atoms, nitro or alkoxy groups; and n=0 or 1.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition, comprising a main chain-type mesomorphic polymer and a mesomorphic monomer and showing a smectic phase including a plurality of molecular layers, wherein a linkage of a covalent bond is present between adjacent molecular layers among the plurality molecular layers. Because of the presence of the covalent bond linkage between the molecular layers, the elastic energy of the liquid crystal per se relating to the elastic energy between the smectic liquid crystal molecular layers can be controlled to provide a uniform alignment. The mesomorphic polymer preferably has a structure represented by the following formula (1): ##STR1## wherein A denotes a terminal flexible chain group, M denotes a mesogen group, F denotes a spacer flexible chain group, x is 0 or 1, B denotes an ester bond group, ether bond group, thioester bond group, dimethylsiloxane bond group or thioether bond group, and y is 1-200.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 independently denote methyl group or a mesomorphic residual group, at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 being a mesomorphic residual group having an optically active group of the formula below as a terminal flexible group: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.4 is an alkyl group having 1-12 carbon atoms; n is an integer of 0-10; m is an integer of 1-10; and L is an integer of 1-100. The mesomorphic compound is usable for constituting a liquid crystal composition and a liquid crystal device having a large picture area and capable of showing an improved switching characteristic and a good impact resistance.

Abstract: A mesomorphic compound represented by the following formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms capable of including one or non-neighboring two or more methylene groups which can be replaced with at least one species of ##STR2## with the proviso that X denotes O or S and Y denotes halogen; R.sub.2 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-18 carbon atoms; A, B and D independently denote ##STR3## wherein Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2 independently denote hydrogen, halogen, --CH.sub.3, --CN or --CF.sub.3 ; E denotes --CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 F or --CF.sub.3 ; and f and g independently denote 0 or 1. The mesomorphic compound is effective for providing a ferroelectric liquid crystal composition showing an improved response speed and also effective for suppressing occurrence of reverse domain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel transition metal complex which catalyzes asymmetric hydrogenation reaction. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of the foregoing novel complex. The present invention further provides an asymmetric hydrogenation catalyst comprising the foregoing novel complex.

Abstract: In optical resolution of an optically inactive (.+-.)-cis-4-aminocyclopent-2-en-1-carboxylic acid derivative into its (+)-derivative and (-)-derivative, the (.+-.)-cis-4-aminocyclopent-2-en-l-carboxylic acid derivative is allowed to react with an optically active cis-2-(arylalkylamino)cyclohexanemethanol or optically active .alpha.-alkylbenzylamine serving as an optically resolving agent, to form diastereomer salts corresponding to the (+)-cis-4-aminocyclopent-2-en-1-carboxylic acid derivative and the (-)-cis-4-aminocyclopent-2-en-1-carboxylic acid derivative.

Abstract: A liquid crystal composition, comprising: at least one optically active mesomorphic compound having an asymmetric carbon atom to which a fluorine atom is directly bonded.

Abstract: (.+-.)-2-(4-Isobutylphenyl)-propionic acid can be resolved into optically active isomers easily and with high yields. The method is characterized by the use of the optically active amine of the following general formula (I) or (II) as a resolving agent.