Abstract: Disclosed is a method of obtaining (S)-(-)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-2-pyridone (2) and (R)-(+)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-2-pyridone (3) by resolving a racemic mixture of the compounds (2) and (3). More specifically, disclosed is a method of obtaining the optically active nicotine derivatives (2) and (3) shown below, which comprises steps of binding (.+-.)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-2-pyridone to a sugar derivative, resolving the obtained compound into two types of stereoisomers, and treating them under an acidic condition.

Abstract: 2,3-Dideoxy-2,2-di(organothio)-B-D-pentofuranosyl-pyrimidines are disclosed as intermediates in the synthesis of 2', 3'-dideoxynucleosides and have the structure shown below. ##STR1## wherein R.sup.4 is a hydroxyl protecting group;X is oxygen or nitrogen, said nitrogen being bonded to a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or acyl group;Y is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl, haloalkyl or haloalkenyl; andR.sup.5 is alkyl, aralkyl, or aryl wherein aralkkyl or aryl is substituted with hydrogen, halogen, nitro or alkoxy.2', 3'-Dideoxynucleosides, products of the above intermediates, are useful as antiviral agents.

Abstract: Providing a method of preparing (3R,4R)-3-hydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl-4-butanolide conveniently and selectively from a widely available raw material in a high yield. A carbonyl group of the 2-position of levoglucosenone is reduced to obtain a hydroxyl group of a .beta.-configuration. Then, an iodo-group of an .alpha.-configuration and an acyloxy ion of a .beta.-configuration are introduced regioselectively and stereoselectively to the double bond at the 4-position and the 3-position of the above-mentioned levoglucosenone, respectively, keeping a trans stereochemical relationship. An alkoxide is then formed, by hydrolysis and an oxirane ring of a .beta.-configuration is formed by removing an iodo-group by intramolecular nucleophilic displacement reaction of the alkoxide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing D-altrose (4) from the starting material levo-glucosenon (1) in accordance with reactions denoted by reaction formulas (I), (II) and (III) given below: ##STR1##

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of preparing 3-DPA-lactone, which is difficult to obtain in a large amount from nature. According to the method of the present invention, the target compound can be synthesized at a high yield in fewer steps and more easily than by the conventional synthesizing technique, and selectively from a widely available material. In the method of the present invention, the hydroxyl groups at the 2- and 5 -positions of .gamma.-ribonolactone are protected, and then the hydroxyl group at the 3-position is eliminated so as to form a double bond between the 2- and 3-positions. After that, the protecting groups for the hydroxyl groups are eliminated.

Abstract: An alkynyl group having a triple bond at the carbon atom at the 1-position is introduced to a carbon atom at the 1-position of 2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-ribofuranose. The diol part is then cleaved to obtain a lactol compound. This lactol compound is oxidized to obtain a lactone compound. The ketal part of the lactone compound is hydrolyzed and the compound is further subjected to a reduction reaction. The hydroxyl groups at the 2- and 3-positions are then eliminated, and the double bond between the 2- and 3-positions of the resultant compound is reduced to obtain a 4-substituted-.gamma.-lactone.

Abstract: In the method of the present invention for manufacturing 3-DPA-lactone, a protective group is introduced in the first step into the hydroxyl group at 4-position of .gamma.-ribonolactone by an ordinary method. Then, an acid anhydride or an acid chloride is added in the presence of a tertiary amine compound so as to conduct a .beta.-elimination of the hydroxyl group at the 3-position. As a result, a double bond is formed between the 2- and 3-positions and, at the same time, the hydroxyl group at the 2-position is acylated. The double bond between the 2- and 3-positions is reduced in the next step by means of a catalytic hydrogenation. Finally, the protective group of the hydroxyl group is eliminated by an ordinary method. The particular method permits using readily available raw materials, decreasing the number of manufacturing steps, and easily and selectively synthesizing the desired 3-DPA-lactone, which is hardly obtained from nature in a large amount, in high yield, compared with the conventional method.

Abstract: A method for producing (R,Z)-5-tetradecen-4-olide, comprising the following reaction formulas; ##STR1##

Abstract: An acid addition salt of .delta.-aminolevulinic acid is prepared in such a way that tetrahydrofurfurylamine (VI) is reacted with phthalic anhydride under an anhydrous condition to introduce a phthal group which protects amino group of tetrahydrofurfurylamine to give N-tetrahydrofurfuryl phthalimide (III), carbon atoms of the first- and fourth-positions of thus obtained N-tetrahydrofurfurylphthalimide (III) are oxidized at 80.degree. C. using sodium periodate as a oxidizing agent and ruthenium chloride hydrate as a catalyst to yield 5-phthalimidolevulinic acid (II), then the protecting group of 5-phthalimidolevulinic acid (II) is deprotected using an acid to prepare an acid additional salt of .delta.-aminolevulinic acid. The acid additional salt of .delta.-aminolevulinic acid is readily converted by neutralization by an alkali to .delta.-aminolevulinic acid, which is very useful as a precursor of Vitamin B.sub.12, heme and chlorophyll.

Abstract: The instant invention is drawn to a method for manufacturing 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydronucleoside compounds by reacting a ribonucleoside derivative wherein the hydroxyl in the 5'-position of the furanose ring of said ribonucleoside is protected by a silyl protective group, with an acid anhydride such as acetic anhydride in the presence of a catalyst such as hydrous zirconium oxide, and then subjecting the reaction product to decarboxylation. The decarboxylation can be effected by heating the reaction product. This method can be performed in a single step, and requires no reagents which are expensive or chemicals which should be handled with care. Hence, it serves to manufacture 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydronucleosides easily at low cost.

Abstract: 2'-deoxy-.beta.-adenosine can be industrially and easily obtained without using expensive or dangerous materials by the process of the present invention, which comprises the steps of: preparing a salt of adenine from adenine, allowing to condense the salt with a derivative of pentofuranose to isolate a derivative of adenine, and then eliminating the protecting groups.

Abstract: First, levoglucosenone is made to react with methyl lithium in the presence of copper iodide in order to introduce a methyl group into an enone group of levoglucosenone, and to obtain 1,6-anhydro-3,4-dideoxy-4-C-methyl-.beta.-D-erythro-hexopyranose-2-ulose. This methyl compound is oxidized in acetic acid for lactone formation, and (3S,4S)-5-hydroxy-3-methylpentan-4-olide is thus obtained. Further, this lactone is made to react with tosyl chloride in anhydrous pyridine to obtain (3S,4S)-3-methyl-5-tosyloxypentan-4-olide (tosylate). The obtained tosylate is alkylated with n-propyl lithium in the presence of copper iodide to obtain (3S,4R)-3-methyl-4-octanolide. Here, the (3S,4S)-3-methyl-5-tosyloxypentan-4-olide may be treated with potassium carbonate to cleave lactone ring once, thereby obtaining epoxide. After that, the obtained epoxide is alkylated to form lactone ring again to obtain (3S,4R)-3-methyl-4-octanolide.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing an aldehyde in which a primary alcohol is reacted with an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of ketone, aldehyde and quinone in the presence of a diluent which does not participate in the reaction, in the presence of a partially dehydrated zirconium hydroxide, so as to oxidize the primary alcohol into its corresponding aldehyde.

Abstract: A color separation/synthetic optical system has a plurality of dichroic mirrors for allowing an incident light to be transmitted therethrough and to be reflected thereon every different rays of color light. A first dichroic mirror and a second dichroic mirror adjacent to the first dichroic mirror are arranged in a manner that they are inclined by predetermined angles, respectively. The second dichroic mirror is rotationally inclined about a vertical axis to a horizontal axis of rotational inclination of the first dichroic mirror. Thus, both astigmatic differences produced in the two mirrors are canceled.

Abstract: (S)-4-hydroxymethyl-.gamma.-lactone is prepared by oxidizing dihydrolevoglucosenone with a peracid in an organic solvent. (S)-4-hydroxymethyl-.gamma.-lactone is prepared from levoglucosenone. First, levoglucosenone is catalytic hydrogenated, thereby dihydrolevoglucosenone is obtained. Next, dihydrolevoglucosenone thus obtained is oxidized with a peracid in an organic solvent, thereby (S)-4-hydroxymethyl-.gamma.-lactone is obtained. In this manner, (S)-4-hydroxymethyl-.gamma.-lactone can be obtained with high optical purity.

Abstract: Levoglucosenone is prepared by reaction sequence using 1,6-anhydro-.beta.-D-galactopyranose as a starting material. First, the starting material is reacted with ortho formate, obtaining an ortho ester of said starting material. Then, the ortho ester is placed under the conditions for a reductive elimination reaction of the ortho formate part of said ortho ester, thereby converting said ortho ester to a 1,6-anhydro-3,4-dideoxy derivative. The dideoxy derivative is placed under the conditions for oxidation of the hydroxy group of said dideoxy derivative, thereby forming levoglucosenone.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for preparing 2'-deoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-.beta.uridine characterized in that a 5-trifluoromethyl-2,4-bis(triorganosilyloxy)pyrimidine and a 1-halogeno-2-deoxy-.alpha.-D-erythro-pentofuranose derivative are subjected to condensation reaction in chloroform to give a 1-(2-deoxy-.beta.-D-erythro-pentofuranoxyl)-5-trifluoromethyluracil derivative which is then subjected to the deprotection reaction to give 2'-deoxy-5-trifluoromethyl-.beta.-uridine.

Abstract: A method of preparing (S)-.gamma.-hydroxymethyl-.alpha.,.beta.-butenolide includes the step of oxidizing a levoglucosenone with a peracid in an organic solvent. Peracetic acid, metha-chloroperbenzoic acid or magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hexahydrate can be used as the peracid. According to this method, an (S)-.gamma.-hydroxymethyl-.alpha.,.beta.-butenolide having high optical purity can be easily prepared from a levoglucosenone as a starting material at a high yield.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of reduction of aldehydes or ketones by means of reaction with alcohols, in the presence of a catalyst, to produce alcohols which correspond to said respective aldehyde or ketone. A solid of partially dehydrated one or more metal hydroxides whose metal is selected from the group consists of titanium, tin, ion, aluminum, cerium, and niobium is used as the catalyst. This process can be conducted either in a gas phase or in a liquid phase.

Abstract: An alcohol compound is produced by reducing a carboxylic acid or an ester thereof with an alcohol in the presence of a solid catalyst. The catalyst includes a hydrous metal oxide belonging to Group IV of the Periodic Table.