Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing optically active halomethyl phenyl carbinols of the formula (1), comprising reducing halomethyl phenyl ketones of the formula (2) using an asymmetric reducing agent obtained from boranes and optically active .alpha.-phenyl-substituted-.beta.-amino alcohols of the formula (3) or optically active .alpha.-non-substituted-.beta.-amino alcohols of the formula (4).The present invention further relates to a process for producing optically active carbinols, comprising reacting a prochiral ketone with, an asymmetric reducing agent obtained from optically active .beta.-amino alcohols of the formula (5), a metal boron hydride and Lewis acid or lower dialkyl sulfuric acid. All of the formulas (1) to (5) are the same as shown in the specification.

Abstract: A process for preparing an optically active alcohol by reacting a prochiral ketone corresponding to the optically active alcohol and an acid with a mixture of (1) a boron-containing compound selected from the group consisting of i) a borane compound which is obtained from an optically active .beta.-aminoalcohol and a boron hydride; or obtained from the optically active .beta.-aminoalcohol, a metal borohydride and an acid and ii) an optically active oxazaborolidine and (2) a metal borohydride; and a process for preparing an optically active amine by reacting an oxime derivative and an acid with a mixture of (1) a boron-containing compound selected from the group consisting of i) a borane compound which is obtained from an optically active .beta.-aminoalcohol and a boron hydride, or obtained from said optically active .beta.-aminoalcohol, a metal borohydride and an acid and ii) an optically active oxazaborolidine, and (2) a metal borohydride.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing optically active halomethyl phenyl carbinols of the formula (1), comprising reducing halomethyl phenyl ketones of the formula (2) using an asymmetric reducing agent obtained from boranes and optically active .alpha.-phenyl-substituted-.beta.-amino alcohols of the formula (3) or optically active .alpha.-non-substituted-.beta.-amino alcohols of the formula (4).The present invention further relates to a process for producing optically active carbinols, comprising reacting a prochiral keytone with an asymmetric reducing agent obtained from optically active .beta.-amino alcohols of the formula (5), a metal boron hydride and Lewis acid or lower dialkyl sulfuric acid. All of the formulas (1) to (5) are the same as shown in the specification.

Abstract: A process for preparing an optically active alcohol by reacting a prochiral ketone corresponding to the optically active alcohol and an acid with a mixture of (1) a boron-containing compound selected from the group consisting of i) a borane compound which is obtained from an optically active .beta.-aminoalcohol and a boron hydride; or obtained from the optically active .beta.-aminoalcohol, a metal borohydride and an acid and ii) an optically active oxazaborolidine and (2) a metal borohydride; and a process for preparing an optically active amine by reacting an oxime derivative and an acid with a mixture of (1) a boron-containing compound selected from the group consisting of i) a borane compound which is obtained from an optically active .beta.-aminoalcohol and a boron hydride, or obtained from said optically active .beta.-aminoalcohol, a metal borohydride and an acid and ii) an optically active oxazaborolidine, and (2) a metal borohydride.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing (R)-styrene oxides represented by the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and X are as defined in the specification, which comprises treating a mixture of (R)- and (S)-phenylhalogenomethylcarbinols with a lipase in the presence of a carboxylate to preferentially convert the (S)-phenylhalogenomethylcarbinols, and treating a mixture of the formed carbinol alkylates (3) and (R)-phenylhalogenomethylcarbinols with a base to cyclize the (R)-phenylhalogenomethylcarbinols, and also provides an industrially excellent process for producing (R)-styrene oxides (1) which comprises using a mixture enriched with (R)-phenylhalogenomethylcarbinols as the mixture of (R)- and (S)-phenylhalogenomethylcarbinols (2).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing optically active alcohol derivatives, which are useful as fungicides, herbicides or plant growth regulators, represented by the formula, ##STR1## by carrying out the asymmetric reduction of a ketone compound represented by the formula, ##STR2## with a boron hydride-reducing agent modified with an optically active amino alcohol represented by the formula, ##STR3## and also relates to the boron hydride type compound obtained by reacting the above optically active amino alcohol with a boron hydride compound and its production method.

Abstract: Disclosed are optically active secondary amine compounds and salts thereof having the general formula (I): ##STR1## a process for the preparation of the optically active secondary amine compounds and salts thereof, and the use of such compounds. Such compounds exhibit a high resolution power and hence are useful agents for optical resolution.

Abstract: Disclosed are optically active secondary amine compounds and salts thereof having the general formula (I): ##STR1## a process for the preparation of the optically active secondary amine compounds and salts thereof, and the use of such compounds. Such compounds exhibit a high resolution power and hence are useful agents for optical resolution.

Abstract: The optically active benzylamine derivatives of the present invention are very useful for use as the asymmetric ligand of an asymmetric reducing agent. By using the optically active amine-boron complex prepared from the compound of the present invention, optically active products can be obtained in a specifically high optical yield. Moreover, the separation and recovery of the reaction products and asymmetric ligand can be easily achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing an optically active amine represented by the formula (IV) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.7 and R.sub.8 each denote an alkyl group, aryl group or aralkyl group, providing that they do not denote the same group at the same time, and * indicates an asymmetric carbon atom, which comprises reacting an asymmetric reducing agent obtained from (1) an optically active amine derivative represented by the formula (I) ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 denotes an alkyl group, aryl group or aralkyl group; R.sub.2 denotes a hydrogen atom, alkyl group or aralkyl group; R.sub.3 denotes an aryl group or a substituent represented by the formula (II) ##STR3## wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 each denote a hydrogen atom, aryl group or aralkyl group, and * is as defined above, (2) a metal borohydride and (3) sulfuric acid, with either the syn-isomer or the anti-isomer of an oxime derivative represented by the formula (III) or with a mixture rich in either one of the two isomers ##STR4## wherein R.sub.

Abstract: A method for producing an optically active amine which is an important compound as a resolving agent for medicines, agricultural chemicals, intermediates thereof, etc is disclosed.

Abstract: The process for producing an optically active alcohol of the present invention comprises allowing(A) an optically active amino alcohol represented by the general formula (I) ##STR1## (R.sup.1 is an aryl group, R.sup.2 is a lower alkyl group, R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, and the carbon atoms having a mark * are each an asymmetric carbon atom) and an acid, or a salt of the optically active amino alcohol (I) and an acid,(B) a metal borohydride, and(C) at least one member selected from the group consisting of water, sulfides, cyclic ethers, ethers of mono alcohol to react witha prochiral ketone represented by the general formula (II) ##STR2## [R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are different and each a lower alkyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group or a 2-substituted-1-triazoleethylene group represented by the general formula (III) ##STR3## (R.sup.6 is a halogen- or haloalkyl-substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a cycloalkyl group)].

Abstract: Alkenecarboxylic esters of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 is hydrogen or alkyl or 1 to 4 carbon atoms, the substituents being identical or different, and n is 1, 2 or 3 are prepared by reacting lactones of the formula II ##STR2## where R.sup.2 has the same meanings as in the formula I, R.sub.3 is hydrogen or methyl and m is 0, 1 or 2, with the proviso that n and m differ by 1 when R.sub.3 is hydrogen and by 2 when R.sub.3 is methyl, with alkanols having 1 to 6 carbon atoms at from 50.degree. to 450.degree. C. in the presence of zeolites and/or phosphates as catalysts.

Abstract: Isomerization of an unsymmetrical ketoxime ether is effected using at least one Lewis acid selected from titanium chloride, titanium bromide, aluminum chloride, aluminum bromide, boron chloride, and boron bromide as isomerizing agents. Examples of the Lewis acid are titanium tetrachloride, titanium trichloride, aluminum trichloride, aluminum tribromide, boron trichloride, and boron tribromide. The ketoxime ether is preferably an anti-isomer or a syn-isomer of a compound represented by the formula (I) or a mixture of the anti-isomer and the syn-isomer: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents an aryl group, an aralkyl group or an alkyl group and R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 each represents an aralkyl group or an alkyl group, with a proviso that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not identical.

Abstract: The optically active benzylamine derivatives of the present invention are very useful for use as the asymmetric ligand of an asymmetric reducing agent. By using the optically active amine-boron complex prepared from the compound of the present invention, optically active products can be obtained in a specifically high optical yield. Moreover, the separation and recovery of the reaction products and asymmetric ligand can be easily achieved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an asymmetrically modified borohydride type compound obtained by reacting an optically active amino alcohol represented by the formula, ##STR1## or its salt with an acid with a borohydride compound; its production method; and a method for producing an optically active alcohol derivative useful as fungicides, herbicides or plant growth regulators and represented by the formula, ##STR2## which comprises asymmetrically reducing a ketone compound represented by the formula, ##STR3## with the asymmetrically modified borohydride type compound.

Abstract: The optically active benzylamine derivatives of the present invention are very useful for use as the asymmetric ligand of an asymmetric reducing agent. By using the optically active amine-boron complex prepared from the compound of the present invention, optically active products can be obtained in a specifically high optical yield. Moreover, the separation and recovery of the reaction products and asymmetric ligand can be easily achieved.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optically active borane complex represented by the general formula, ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an aryl group, R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group and a mark * means an asymmetric carbon, and a method for producing optically active alcohol derivatives by the reduction of prochiral ketones with said borane complex. The optically active alcohol derivative is useful for fungicides, herbicides or plant growth regulators.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing optically active alcohol derivatives, which are useful as fungicides, herbicides or plant growth regulators, represented by the formula, ##STR1## by carrying out the asymmetric reduction of a ketone compound represented by the formula, ##STR2## with a boron hydride-reducing agent modified with an optically active amino alcohol represented by the formula, ##STR3## and also relates to the boron hydride type compound obtained by reacting the above optically active amino alcohol with a boron hydride compound and its production method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an asymmetrically modified borohydride type compound obtained by reacting an optically active amino alcohol represented by the formula, ##STR1## or its salt with an acid with a borohydride compound; its production method; and a method for producing an optically active alcohol derivative useful as fungicides, herbicides or plant growth regulators and represented by the formula, ##STR2## which comprises asymmetrically reducing a ketone compound represented by the formula, ##STR3## with the asymmetrically modified borohydride type compound.