Abstract: A process for efficiently producing a polysaccharide from coffee beans or/and a coffee extraction residue. Use of these has not received attention because of difficulty in decomposing these. The process, which is for producing a polysaccharide from coffee beans or/and a coffee extraction residue, comprises: a step (a) in which the coffee beans or/and coffee extraction residue are reduced to particles having a diameter of 10.0 ?m to 5.0 mm; a step (b1) in which after the step (a), the particles are heated at 50-100° C. in the presence of a dilute alkali; a step (c1) in which after completion of the step (b1), cellulase is caused to act thereon; a step (b2) in which after the step (c1), a heat treatment is conducted at 120° C. or higher in the presence of a dilute alkali; and a step (c2) in which after the step (b2), cellulase is caused to act thereon.

Abstract: A process for preparing an optically active 4-halogeno-1,3-butanediol and (R)-1,2,4-butanetriol or (S)-3-hydroxy-&ggr;-butyrolactone which comprises reacting a racemic 4-halogeno-1,3-butanediol with a specific microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas.

Abstract: A process for preparation of optically active 4-halogeno-3-hydoxybutyronitrile and 4-halogeno-3-alkanoyloxybutyronitrile, which are simply and economically prepared by reacting a racemic 4-halogeno-3-alkanoyloxybutyronitrile with a microorganism such as a strain of the genus Pseudomonas or the genus Enterobacter, which has the activity stereoselectively hydrolyzing the ester portion, its culture broth or an enzyme(s) derived from the microorganism or an enzyme preparation such as a lipase preparation.

Abstract: An industrial and economical method for obtaining a (S)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol, which comprises cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus. Pseudomonas which has an ability to assimilate (R)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol and can grow by assimilating (R)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol as a single carbon source, in a culture medium containing a racemic 3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol as a substrate, and isolating the (S)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol from the culture medium.

Abstract: An industrial and economical method for obtaining a (S)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol, which comprises cultivating a microorganism belonging to the genus Pseudomonas which has an ability to assimilate (R)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol and can grow by assimilating (R)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol as a single carbon source, in a culture medium containing a racemic 3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol as a substrate, and isolating the (S)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol from the culture medium.

Abstract: A novel method for preparing optically active chlorohydrin compound and optically active 1,2-diol compound and/or optically active 3-hydroxy-.gamma.-butyrolactone which are useful as intermediates for preparing medicaments, agricultural chemicals, physiologically active substances and ferroelectric liquid crystals, which comprises treating a racemic chlorohydrin compound having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is H or lower alkyl group; and R.sup.2 is substituted or unsubstituted lower alkyl group when R.sup.1 is H; or R.sup.2 is H when R.sup.1 is lower alkyl group with a microorganism, whereby selectively degrading only one of optical isomers thereof, and recovering the remaining an other optically active chlorohydrin and isolating optically active 1,2-diol compound and/or optically active 3-hydroxy-.gamma.-butyrolactone converted by the reaction.

Abstract: An optically active glycidyl ether, which is useful in making .gamma.-lactone containing liquid crystalline compounds, the ether having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## n is 0 or 1; e is 1; R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; and the symbol * is an asymmetric carbon atom.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds having an optionally active .gamma.-lactone ring of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## n and e are each independently 0 or 1; R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is a group of the formula: --(CO).sub.m --R.sup.4 ; m is 0 or 1; R.sup.4 is hydrogen atom or an alkyl having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; and the symbol * is an asymmetric carbon atom, and an intermediate thereof, and process for the production of the same.

Abstract: A process for preparation of R-(-)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol which comprises cultivating in a medium containing racemate 3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol a bacterium, which, when cultivated in a medium containing racemate 3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol as a sole carbon source, can grow and proliferate, has an ability to assimilate S-(+)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol preferentially compared to R-(-)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol and belongs to the genus Pseudomonas, or its culture cells; and recovering R-(-)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol from the resulting culture broth.

Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal composition comprising at least one compound represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, the same or different, a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and each asterisk represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and at least one compound represented by the formula (II): ##STR2## wherein R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are, the same or different, a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms, and each asterisk represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and liquid crystal device incorporating same.

Abstract: A process for preparation of S-(+)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol which comprises cultivating a bacterium, which has an ability to assimilate R-(-)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol and belongs to the genus Alcaligenes, or its culture broth in a medium containing racemate 3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol, and recovering S-(+)-3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol from the resulting culture broth.

Abstract: A process for producing optically active R-(+)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol, which comprises cultivating an S-(-)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol-assimilating strain belonging to the genus Alcaligenes in a culture medium containing racemate 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol, and recovering optical isomer R-(+)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol from the culture broth and a pure culture of an S-(+)-dichloro-1-propanol-assimilating strain belonging to the genus Alcaligenes.

Abstract: A chiral smectic liquid crystal composition comprising one or more liquid crystalline compound exhibiting a smectic C phase and at least one compound of the formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are same or different and are each a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and each C marked with * is an optically active carbon atoms, and a liquid crystal display device containing it.

Abstract: Liquid crystalline compounds having an optically active .gamma.-lactone ring of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is a group selected from the group consisting of ##STR2## n and e are each independently 0 or 1; R.sup.3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 is a group of the formula: --(CO).sub.m --R.sup.4 ; m is 0 or 1; R.sup.4 is hydrogen atom or an alkyl having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; and the symbol * is an asymmetric carbon atom, and an intermediate thereof, and process for the production of the same.

Abstract: A process for producing optically active dichloropropanol, which comprises cultivating an R-(+)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol-assimilating strain belonging to the genus Pseudomonas in a culture medium containing racemate 2,3-dichloro-1-propanol, and recovering optical isomer S-(-)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol from the culture broth, and a process for producing optically active epichlorohydrin, which comprises reacting the optical isomer S-(-)-2,3-dichloro-1-propanol obtained by the aforesaid process with an alkali.