Abstract: A process for preparing enantiomerically pure esters of the formula I (Ia and Ib) where the substituents have the following meanings: R1 hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy or Cl-C6-alkanoyl, R2 and R3 independently of one another hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6-alkyl, C1-C6-alkoxy, C1-C6-alkanoyl, C1-C6-alkylthio, C1-C6-alkylsulfinyl or C1-C6-alkylsulfonyl, R4 and R5 R4≠R5 and independently of one another hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6-alkyl or R4 and R5 form together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded a substituted or unsubstituted C3-C6-cycloalkylidene, R6 substituted or unsubstituted aryl, C1-C20-alkyl, C3-C20-alkenyl, C3-C20-alkynyl, C1-C20-alkoxy-C1-C20-alkyl comprises converting racemic compounds of the formula II, where the substituents R1 to R5 have the abovementioned meanings, with a lipase or esterase in the presence of vinyl esters of the formula III, wher

Abstract: A process for preparing optically active primary and secondary heteroatom-substituted amines from the corresponding racemates, which comprises a) enantioselective acylation of a racemic heteroatom-substituted amine with an ester whose acid component carries a fluorine, nitrogen, phosphorus, oxygen or sulfur atom in the vicinity of the carbonyl carbon, in the presence of a hydrolase, b) separation of the mixture of optically active heteroatom-substituted amine and optically active acylated heteroatom-substituted amine to obtain one enantiomer of the heteroatom-substituted amine, c) if required isolation of the other enantiomer of the heteroatom-substituted amine from the acylated heteroatom-substituted amine by amide cleavage.

Abstract: 3-Pyrroline-2-carboxylic acid derivatives of the formula I ##STR1## are prepared by eliminating the sulfonic acid residue, with the aid of a base, from a compound of the formula II ##STR2##

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for cleaving optically active amides to carboxylic acids and optically active amines with retention of the center of chirality, wherein the amides are hydrolyzed in the presence of a polyol or of an amino alcohol and of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide.

Abstract: A process for the biotechnological preparation of alcohols, aldehydes and carboxylic acids by oxidation of compounds of the formula R.sup.1 --C(CH.sub.3).dbd.CR.sup.2 R.sup.3, where R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 have the meanings indicated in the description, with the aid of microorganisms is described.

Abstract: A process for producing optically active primary and secondary amines from the corresponding racemates is characterised in that (a) a racemic amine is enantioselectively acylated in the presence of a hydrolase with an ester whose acid component bears a fluorine, nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur atom at the proximity of the carbonyl carbon atom; (b) the mixture of optically active amine and optically active acylated amine is separated so that an enantiomer of amine is produced; (c) if desired the other enantiomer of the amine is extracted from the acylated amine by amide cleavage.

Abstract: A process for preparing enantiomerically pure lactams of the formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each, independently of one another, H, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 -alkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted aryl, (CH.sub.2).sub.n --COOH with n=0, 1, 2, 3, and X is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, from a racemate of the formula I by. allowing a biocatalyst which selectively converts one enantiomer from I to act on the racemic mixture of I, and isolating the unconverted enantiomer from the resulting mixture of products.

Abstract: (6S)-6,8-Dihydroxyoctanoic esters I ##STR1## (R.sup.1 =alkyl, cycloalkyl, aralkyl or aryl), are prepared by reducing a (3S)-3-hydroxyoctanedioic diester II ##STR2## (R.sup.2 =an R.sup.1 radical group) with a complex hydride and are mainly used as intermediates for synthesizing compounds of the type of liponic acid.

Abstract: A process for preparing R/S-.gamma.-lipoic acid of the formula I or R/S-.alpha.-lipoic acid of the formula II ##STR1## is disclosed.

Abstract: A process for isolating the calcium salt of ascorbyl 2-monophosphate from aqueous alkaline reaction mixtures as are obtained on reaction of ascorbic acid with a molar excess of phosphorus oxychloride in the presence of a tertiary amine while maintaining a pH of from 12 to 13 during the reaction by means of an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution, which comprisesa) starting from a reaction mixture which has been obtained by reacting ascorbic acid with phosphorus oxychloride in the presence of pyridine while maintaining a pH of from 12 to 13 by means of an aqueous potassium hydroxide solution,b) precipitating, as potassium magnesium phosphate, the phosphate ions which have been formed in this reaction by means of magnesium chloride in amounts of about 1 mol per mol of phosphate ions,c) removing the potassium magnesium phosphate,d) distilling the remaining aqueous solution to remove the pyridine together with part of the water,e) reacting the resulting aqueous solution with calcium chloride andf) isolating th

Abstract: A process for preparing R/S-.gamma.-lipoic acid of the formula I or R/S-.alpha.-lipoic acid of the formula II ##STR1## is disclosed.

Abstract: Potassium magnesium L-ascorbate 2-phosphate is prepared from an aqueous solution of potassium L-ascorbate 2-phosphate which is highly contaminated with KCl, as is produced in the phosphorylation of 5,6-isopropylidene-L-ascorbic acid, by adding to the solution about 1 equivalent of magnesium ions per equivalent of L-ascorbate 2-phosphate, and subsequently removing the KCl by electrodialysis. The product of this process is a novel salt of L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate and has very advantageous handling properties.