Abstract: A peptide of the formula: 5-oxo—Pro—R1—Trp—Ser—R2—R3—R4—Arg—Pro—R6  (I) wherein R1 represents His, Tyr, Trp or p—NH2—Phe, R2 represents Tyr or Phe, R3 represents an optionally substituted Gly or an optionally substituted &agr;-D-amino acid residue, R4 represents Leu, Ile or Nle, R6 represents (1) Gly—NH—R7, wherein R7 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may optionally be substituted with a hydroxyl group, or (2) NH—R8, wherein R8 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may optionally be substituted with a hydroxyl group or an ureido group (—NH—CO—NH2), is produced advantageously in an industrial scale by reacting a peptide of the formula: 5-oxo—Pro—R1—Trp—Ser—R2—R3—OH  (II) wherein R1, R2 and R3 have the same meanings as defined above or its salts, with a peptide of the formula: H—R4—R5—Pro&mda

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved process for substitution of the hydroxy group at 2-position of an ascorbic acid derivative according to the following reaction scheme: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.0 is hydrogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, phenyl or a group of the formula ##STR2## (wherein X is two hydrogen atoms, or acetal or ketal residue); R.sup.1 is an alkyl or alkenyl group having up to 22 carbon atoms which may be substituted with phenyl or alkoxy having 1 to 22 carbon atoms; Y is halogen or optionally substituted sulfonyloxy; R is hydrogen, or primary, secondary or tertiary alkyl having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and Z is an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal. There is also disclosed hydrolysis of the following scheme: ##STR3## wherein R.sup.1 is as defined above; and X is acetal or ketal residue.

Abstract: An improved process for producing a substituted vinyl pyridine compound of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 is pyridyl group; R.sup.2 is an optionally substituted aromatic or heterocyclic group; R.sup.3 is a lower alkyl group, hydroxymethyl group, nitroxymethyl group, a nitrogen containing 5 membered ring-methyl group, an acetal-methyl group, a trialkylsilyloxymethyl group, an alkyl- or aryl-sulfonyloxymethyl group, an alkyl- or aryl-sulfonylaminocarbonyloxymethyl group, an acyloxymethyl group, an alkoxycarbonyloxymethyl group, a halogenomethyl group, an alkoxymethyl group, an aryl-oxymethyl group, cyano group, an optionally substituted carbamoyl group, an optionally substituted carbamoyloxymethyl group, an optionally substituted thiocarbamoyloxymethyl group, carboxyl group or an alkoxycarbonyl group; and n is an integer of 1 to 22, which comprises reacting a compound of the general formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are as defined above, with a compound of the general formula:(C.sub.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl) can be produced advantageously by (1) reacting a compound of the formula: ##STR2## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above) with a halogenating agent or sulfonyl halide to give a compound of the formula: ##STR3## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above and X is a halogen or an alkyl- or aryl-sulfonyloxy), (2) reacting the resulting compound with a compound of the formula: ##STR4## to give a compound of the formula: ##STR5## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above), (3) reacting the resulting compound with a compound of the formula: ##STR6## to give a compound of the formula: ##STR7## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above), and (4) subjecting the resulting compound to catalytic reduction.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl) can be produced advantageously by (1) reacting a compound of the formula: ##STR2## (wherein R.sup.1 has a meaning given above) with a halogenating agent or sulfonyl halide to give a compound of the formula: ##STR3## (wherein R.sup.1 has a meaning given above and X is a halogen or an alkyl- or aryl-sulfonyloxy), (2) reacting the resulting compound with a compound of the formula: ##STR4## to give a compound of the formula: (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above), (3) reacting the resulting compound with a compound of the formula: ##STR5## to give a compound of the formula: ##STR6## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above), and (4) subjecting the resulting compound to catalytic reduction.

Abstract: Crystalline thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) tartrate was obtained for the first time from a solution comprising TRH, tartaric acid and a certain solvent. The crystals are very pure and very stable against moisture for a long period of time.

Abstract: A compound of the formula: ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen or a lower alkyl) can be produced advantageously by (1) reacting a compound of the formula: ##STR2## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above) with a halogenating agent or sulfonyl halide to give a compound of the formula: ##STR3## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above and X is a halogen or an alkyl- or aryl-sulfonyloxy), (2) reacting the resulting compound with a compound of the formula: ##STR4## to give a compound of the formula: ##STR5## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above), (3) reacting the resulting compound with a compound of the formula: ##STR6## to give a compound of the formula: ##STR7## (wherein R.sup.1 has the meaning given above), and (4) subjecting the resulting compound to catalytic reduction.