Abstract: A process for producing a pivaloylacetic acid ester comprises reacting pivaloyl chloride with an acetoacetic acid ester of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the presence of at least one nitrogen-containing basic compound (a) selected from among pyridine compounds, N,N-dialkylanilines and imidazole compounds and from 0.01 to 0.5 mole equivalent, based on the pivaloyl chloride, of a magnesium compound (b) to thereby prepare a pivaloylacetoacetic acid ester and then alcholyzing or alkali-hydrolyzing the pivaloylacetoacetic acid ester to thereby give a pivaloylacetic acid ester having a high purity at a low cost.

Abstract: A process for producing a pivaloylacetic acid ester comprises reacting pivaloyl chloride with an acetoacetic acid ester of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms in the presence of at least one nitrogen-containing basic compound (a) selected from among pyridine compounds, N,N-dialkylanilines and imidazole compounds and from 0.01 to 0.5 mole equivalent, based on the pivaloyl chloride, of a magnesium compound (b) to thereby prepare a pivaloylacetoacetic acid ester and then alcholyzing or alkali-hydrolyzing the pivaloylacetoacetic acid ester to thereby give a pivaloylacetic acid ester having a high purity at a low cost.

Abstract: To offer a method of producing useful para-menthane-3,8-diol having the excellent repellent action to harmful living things, including noxious insects, in high purity and high yield, simply, and economically by the use of citronellal as a raw material compound.The above-mentioned problems are resolved by the production method of this invention wherein citronellal is treated with aqueous sulfuric acid solution of 0.02 to 1.0 wt. % in concentration to produce para-menthane-3,8-diol. In case of recovering the produced para-menthane-3,8-diol, a method is preferably adopted, wherein after the reaction product is extracted with an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent of 5 to 8 in carbon number, the extract is cooled down at temperature higher than the melting point of said aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent and of -10.degree. C. or less to crystallize para-menthane-3,8-diol.

Abstract: A novel process for producing 3-oxocarboxylic acid esters, which are useful as intermediates in the synthesis of ceramides to be used as a humectant, biodegradable polymers, drugs, etc., at a high purity and a high yield without requiring any troublesome procedure, is disclosed. The process comprises reacting an acetoacetic ester with a calcium compound, a barium compound or a strontium compound in the presence of an organic solvent at a temperature of 10 to 120.degree. C., further reacting the obtained product with a carboxylic acid chloride to thereby acylate it, and then adding thereto an alcohol in an amount 1 to 5 times by mol as much as the calcium compound, barium compound or strontium compound to thereby deacetylate the same.

Abstract: (2R,3R)-3-N-(L-aspartyl)amino-1-(1-methyl-2-norbornyl)-2-butanol and (2R,3R)-3-N-(L-aspartyl)amino-1-(3-methyl-2-norbornyl)-2-butanol as well as a sweetener comprising the same are disclosed. These compounds, which have excellent sweetness characteristics and are stable in acidic aqueous solutions, are highly useful as a sweetener in various fields.

Abstract: A process for production of an optically active isomer of 2-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy)-1-propanol represented by formula (I): ##STR1## is disclosed, which comprises reacting an optically active isomer of a 1-acyloxy-2-propanol represented by formula (II): ##STR2## wherein R is a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, with 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran to obtain an optically active isomer of a 1-acyloxy-2-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy)propane represented by formula (III): ##STR3## wherein R is as defined above, and hydrolyzing the compound (III) to eliminate the acyl group. The optically active isomer of 2-(tetrahydropyran-2-yloxy)-1-propanol represented by formula (I) is an intermediate for synthesis of pyridobenzoxazine derivatives useful as a synthetic antibacterial agent, particularly an optically active isomer of ofloxacin.