Abstract: To provide an adiponectin secretion regulator whereby the effect of adiponectin can be efficiently expressed while the adverse effect of appetite increase associated with adiponectin is avoided, and to provide a food/drink product, a functional food product, a cosmetic, a pharmaceutical, and an animal feed having such adiponectin secretion regulating effects. In the present invention, fucose or a precursor thereof is used as an active ingredient of the adiponectin secretion regulator. A food/drink product, a functional food product, a cosmetic, a pharmaceutical, or an animal feed having adiponectin secretion regulating effects is obtained by compounding a specific amount of fucose or a precursor thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a taste enhancing agent for achieving sufficient saltiness or sweetness even in cases where the salt content or sugar content in food is reduced. Specifically disclosed is a taste enhancing agent which contains one or more substances selected from among linear aliphatic aldehydes having 3-10 carbon atoms and linear aliphatic alcohols having 4-10 carbon atoms as active ingredients. The amount of salt content or sugar content added to food can be reduced by adding the taste enhancing agent to the food.

Abstract: A process for producing lactams of formula (1) below, including the step of reacting lactones of formula (2) below with imides of any of formulae (3a), (3b) and (3c) below to thereby obtain corresponding carboxylic acids (step A); the step of esterifying the carboxylic acids into corresponding esters (step B); and the step of reacting the esters with amines to thereby obtain lactams of the formula (1) (step C). In the formulae (1)-(2) and (3a)-(3c), when R3 and R4 are simultaneously hydrogen atoms, R is a substituted methylene or optionally substituted polymethylene; when at least one of R3 and R4 is a substituent other than hydrogen atom, R is an optionally substituted methylene or polymethylene; each of R3, R4, R5 and R6 independently is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, cyano, etc.; each of A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9 and A10 independently is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, nitro, etc.; and M is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom.

Abstract: The object is to provide a highly safe NF-?B activation inhibitor at a low cost which can be used for prevention and treatment of diseases associated with the activation of NF-?B such as inflammation or type-2 diabetes. Specifically, the NF-?B activation inhibitor comprises a compound represented by the chemical structural formula depicted in the following Chemical Formula 1 [wherein R1 represents a hydroxy group; R2 represents a hydroxy group, a methoxy group or an alkoxy group; and R3 represents an ester comprising triterpene or a salt thereof] or a salt of the compound as active ingredient. A representative example of the compound is hydroxycinnamic acid derivative triterpene alcohol ester.

Abstract: A process for producing proline derivatives of formula (1) below or acid adduct salts thereof, including: the step of reacting N-protected pyrrolidinones of formula (2) below with reducing agents to thereby obtain N-protected pyrrolidinols of formula (3) below (step A); the step of reacting the N-protected pyrrolidinols obtained in the step A with cyanating agents to thereby obtain N-protected cyanopyrrolidines of formula (4) below (step B); the step of reacting the N-protected cyanopyrrolidines obtained in the step B with alcohols and bases to thereby obtain imidates of formula (5) below and treating the imidates with acids to thereby obtain N-protected prolines of formula (6) below (step C); and the step of treating the N-protected prolines obtained in the step C with acids (step D). In formulas (1)-(6) below, any two out of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are bonded with each other to thereby form an optionally substituted C1-C4 polymethylene; and R7 is an optionally substituted C1-C10 linear alkyl, etc.

Abstract: A process for producing lactams of formula (1) below, including the step of reacting lactones of formula (2) below with imides of any of formulae (3a), (3b) and (3c) to thereby obtain corresponding carboxylic acids (step A); the step of esterifying the carboxylic acids into corresponding esters (step B); and the step of reacting the esters with amines to thereby obtain lactams of the formula (1) (step C). In the formulae (1)-(2) and (3a)-(3c), when R3 and R4 are simultaneously hydrogen atoms, R is a substituted methylene or optionally substituted polymethylene; when at least one of R3 and R4 is a substituent other than hydrogen atom, R is an optionally substituted methylene or polymethylene; each of R3, R4, R5 and R6 independently is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, cyano, etc.; each of A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9 and A10 independently is a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, nitro, etc.; and M is a hydrogen atom or an alkali metal atom.

Abstract: There is disclosed an advantageous mixed acid anhydride production method of formula (1): R1C(O)OY(O)n(R2)p??(1) wherein R1, R2 and Y denote the same as defined below, n and p denote an integer of 1 or 2, which is characterized by adding a carboxylic acid of formula (2); R1COOH??(2) wherein R1 denotes a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group or the like, an organic base to a solution of a carboxylic acid activating agent of formula (3); (R2)pY(O)nX??(3) wherein R2 denotes an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbyl group or the like, Y denotes a carbon atom, a phosphorus atom, or a sulfur atom, and X denotes a chlorine atom or the like.

Abstract: There are disclosed imine compounds of formula (7) and (11), and processes for preparing the same:

Abstract: There is disclosed an advantageous mixed acid anhydride production method of formula (1):

Abstract: Rice washing water is exposed to ultraviolet light so that ferulic acid in the rice washing water is excited by the ultraviolet light to emit fluorescence. Then the intensity of fluorescence emitted by the ferulic acid in the rice washing water is measured and the measured values are used as an index to judge the amount of bran in the rice washing water. Preferably the wave length of the ultraviolet light is set to fall in the range of 330 to 340 nm and the wave length of the fluorescence, whose intensity is to be measured, is set to fall in the range of 430 to 450 nm.

Abstract: There is disclosed an advantageous mixed acid anhydride production method of formula (1): R1C(O)OY(O)n(R2)p  (1) wherein R1, R2 and Y denote the same as defined below, n and p denote an integer of 1 or 2, which is characterized by adding a carboxylic acid of formula (2); R1COOH  (2) wherein R1 denotes a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group or the like, an organic base to a solution of a carboxylic acid activating agent of formula (3); (R2)pY(O)nX  (3) wherein R2 denotes an optionally substituted aliphatic hydrocarbyl group or the like, Y denotes a carbon atom, a phosphorus atom, or a sulfur atom, and X denotes a chlorine atom or the like.

Abstract: There are disclosed imine compounds of formula (7) and (11), and processes for preparing the same: 1

Abstract: There are disclosed are A diastereomer salt of formula (1): a process for producing the same, a process for producing optically active 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionic acid of formula (2′): a novel optically active amine compound of formula (4): a novel optically active amine compound of formula (8): an imine compound of formula (7) or (11):

Abstract: There are disclosed are

Abstract: There are disclosed are a diastereomer salt of formula (1): a process for producing the same, a process for producing optically active 3,3,3-trifluoro-2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionic acid of formula (2′): a novel optically active amine compound of formula (4): a novel optically active amine compound of formula (8): an imine compound of formula (7) or (11):

Abstract: There is disclosed an advantageous mixed acid anhydride production method of formula (1):

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for purifying pyruvic acid compounds, which method comprises reacting a pyruvic acid compound of general formula (I): wherein R1 is an optionally substituted lower alkyl group, a lower alkenyl group, a lower alkynyl group, a cycloalkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, and R2 is a lower alkyl group, with a bisulfite of general formula (II): MHSO3  (II) wherein M is NH4 or an alkali metal, to give a bisulfite adduct of the pyruvic acid compound and then decomposing the adduct with an acid. According to the present invention, pyruvic acid compounds can be purified by simple and easy procedures without using purification techniques such as distillation or column chromatography, and the above method is advantageous as a process for the production on an industrial scale.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing an essentially enantiomerically pure N-protected-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid of formula (1): which method is characterized by: subjecting a crude enantiomerically excess N-protected-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid comprising said enantiomer represented by formula (1) in excess to the other enantiomer thereof to crystallization in an organic solvent selected from aromatic hydrocarbon, aliphatic ether, aliphatic alcohol, aliphatic ketone, aliphatic nitrile, aliphatic amide, aliphatic sulfoxide, aliphatic ester and a mixed solvent thereof, wherein R is: an optionally substituted alkyl, alicyclic or alicyclicalkyl group, an optionally substituted alkenyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group, an optionally substituted heteroaryl group, or a dialkylamino group, and absolute configuration of the asterisked asymmetric carbon atom is S or R.

Abstract: There are disclosed an industrially favorable process for producing a tetrazole compound of general formula (1): characterized in that a nitrile of general formula (2): R1CN  (2) is reacted with hydrazine or a salt thereof in the presence of a catalyst, followed by reaction with a nitrous acid compound of general formula (3): ANO2  (3) or a nitrile of general formula (2) is reacted with hydrogen sulfide, followed by reaction with an alkyl halide of general formula (4): R4J  (4) with hydrazine or a salt thereof, and then with a nitrous acid compound of general formula (3); and an intermediate of general formula (5): R1C(═R5)R6  (5) which is useful for the production of the tetrazole compound (in which R1 to R6, A and J in the above formulas are as defined in the specification).

Abstract: There are disclosed an industrially favorable process for producing a tetrazole compound of general formula (1): characterized in that a nitrile of general formula (2): R1CN  (2) is reacted with hydrazine or a salt thereof in the presence of a catalyst, followed by reaction with a nitrous acid compound of general formula (3): ANO2  (3) or a nitrile of general formula (2) is reacted with hydrogen sulfide, followed by reaction with an alkyl halide of general formula (4): R4J  (4) with hydrazine or a salt thereof, and then with a nitrous acid compound of general formula (3); and an intermediate of general formula (5): R1C(═R5)R6  (5) which is useful for the production of the tetrazole compound (in which R1 to R6, A and J in the above formulas are as defined in the specification).