Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a novel type I natural ceramide derivative having a structure more similar to that of a type I natural ceramide composed of sphingosine and an ?-acyloxy long-chain carboxylic acid; and a method for producing the same. The derivative is provided by reacting an ?-acyloxy long-chain fatty acid derivative with dihydrosphingosine or a salt thereof. The thus produced novel type I natural ceramide derivative, when combined with other ceramides, can significantly improve the compatibility of ceramides, which facilitates preparation of a composition containing ceramides, such as a moisturizer or a cosmetic, and also increases the storage stability of the composition.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for obtaining an optically active vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivative with high yield and high optical purity using a safe material available at low cost. In addition, the objective of the present invention is to provide a method for safely-obtaining an optically active vinylcyclopropaneamino acid with high optical purity at low cost. The problems can be solved by a method for obtaining an optically active vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivative, which method contains the step of reacting a racemic vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivative with an optically active amine compound, to obtain a diastereomer salt of optically active vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivative-amine compound. In addition, it is possible to obtain a vinylcyclopropaneamino acid by deriving the vinylcyclopropaneamino acid from thus obtained diastereomer salt of optically active vinylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid derivative-amine compound.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a novel type I natural ceramide derivative having a structure more similar to that of a type I natural ceramide composed of sphingosine and an ?-acyloxy long-chain carboxylic acid; and a method for producing the same. The derivative is provided by reacting an ?-acyloxy long-chain fatty acid derivative with dihydrosphingosine or a salt thereof. The thus produced novel type I natural ceramide derivative, when combined with other ceramides, can significantly improve the compatibility of ceramides, which facilitates preparation of a composition containing ceramides, such as a moisturizer or a cosmetic, and also increases the storage stability of the composition.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an optically active imidazolidinone derivative widely usable for synthesizing an optically active amino acid, a method of easily producing the derivative, and a method of easily producing an optically active amino acid by using the derivative. The objective can be achieved by producing an optically active amino acid using a novel optically active imidazolidinone derivative represented by a general formula (3) and the like. According to the method of the present invention, an optically active imidazolidinone derivative can be obtained by preferential crystallization from a mixture of isomers of the imidazolidinone derivative. Therefore, an optically active amino acid can be easily and stereoselectively produced without cumbersome procedures required for the conventional methods, such as resolution of diastereomers, synthesis from an optically active amino acid and resolution of isomers by silica gel column chromatography.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an optically active benzylamine derivative which is useful as an intermediate for pharmaceutical products and the like. In the present invention, an optically active benzylalcohol derivative is reacted with a sulfonylamide derivative in the presence of a phosphine derivative and an azodicarbonyl compound, to obtain an optically active benzylsulfonylamide derivative as a novel compound. Then, the thus-obtained optically active benzylsulfonylamide derivative is reacted with a thiol derivative, thereby producing an optically active benzylamine derivative. According to the present invention, the compound can be easily produced by a simple and short process without racemization.

Abstract: The present invention provides an industrially safe, easily operable process for producing an optically active epoxy alcohol derivative useful as an intermediate for pharmaceuticals from inexpensively available materials, and also provides a novel halohydrin derivative serving as an important intermediate for the epoxy alcohol derivative. Furthermore, the present invention provides a process for producing an intermediate for a triazole antifungal agent by allowing a halohydrin to react with a triazole sulfonamide, the process including a small number of steps.

Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide an optically active imidazolidinone derivative widely usable for synthesizing an optically active amino acid, a method of easily producing the derivative, and a method of easily producing an optically active amino acid by using the derivative. The objective can be achieved by producing an optically active amino acid using a novel optically active imidazolidinone derivative represented by a general formula (3) and the like. According to the method of the present invention, an optically active imidazolidinone derivative can be obtained by preferential crystallization from a mixture of isomers of the imidazolidinone derivative. Therefore, an optically active amino acid can be easily and stereoselectively produced without cumbersome procedures required for the conventional methods, such as resolution of diastereomers, synthesis from an optically active amino acid and resolution of isomers by silica gel column chromatography.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an optically active 2-allylcarboxylic acid derivative, which is useful as a pharmaceutical intermediate, from readily available and inexpensive starting materials by the process which can be practiced on a commercial scale in a simple and easy manner, and certain 2-allylcarboxamide derivatives, which are novel and important intermediates in that process. An N-allylcarboxamide derivative undergoes rearrangement reaction diastereoselectively in the presence of a base to give a 2-allylcarboxamide derivative, the resulting derivative is subjected to a carbamation reaction and solvolysis to give an optically active 2-allylcarboxylic acid ester, and then the ester obtained is stereoselectively hydrolyzed using an enzyme to produce 2-allylcarboxylic acid having a high optical purity. In addition, the present invention provides a 2-allylcarboxamide derivative compound which is a novel intermediate in the process of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an optically active 2-allylcarboxylic acid derivative, which is useful as a pharmaceutical intermediate, from readily available and inexpensive starting materials by the process which can be practiced on a commercial scale in a simple and easy manner, and certain 2-allylcarboxamide derivatives, which are novel and important intermediates in that process. An N-allylcarboxamide derivative undergoes rearrangement reaction diastereoselectively in the presence of a base to give a 2-allylcarboxamide derivative, the resulting derivative is subjected to a carbamation reaction and solvolysis to give an optically active 2-allylcarboxylic acid ester, and then the ester obtained is stereoselectively hydrolyzed using an enzyme to produce 2-allylcarboxylic acid having a high optical purity. In addition, the present invention provides a 2-allylcarboxamide derivative compound which is a novel intermediate in the process of the present invention.

Abstract: An optically active amino acid derivative is produced by N-protecting an optically active 3-haloalanine derivative followed by cyclization, or cyclizing this derivative followed by N-protection to thereby give an optically active N-protected-aziridine-2-carboxylic acid derivative which is protected by a benzenesulfonyl group substituted by nitro at the 2- and/or 4-positions and then treating this product with an organic metal reagent, or by N-protecting an optically active 3-haloalanine derivative to thereby give N-protected-aziridine-2-carboxylic acid which is protected by a benzenesulfonyl group substituted by nitro at the 2- and/or 4-positions and then treating this product with an organic metal reagent. According to this process, natural and unnatural optically active amino acids can be produced from inexpensive materials by using simple procedures.

Abstract: The present invention provides an industrially safe, easily operable process for producing an optically active epoxy alcohol derivative useful as an intermediate for pharmaceuticals from inexpensively available materials, and also provides a novel halohydrin derivative serving as an important intermediate for the epoxy alcohol derivative. Furthermore, the present invention provides a process for producing an intermediate for a triazole antifungal agent by allowing a halohydrin to react with a triazole sulfonamide, the process including a small number of steps.

Abstract: An optically active amino acid derivative is produced by N-protecting an optically active 3-haloalanine derivative followed by cyclization, or cyclizing this derivative followed by N-protection to thereby give an optically active N-protected-aziridine-2-carboxylic acid derivative which is protected by a benzenesulfonyl group substituted by nitro at the 2- and/or 4-positions and then treating this product with an organic metal reagent, or by N-protecting an optically active 3-haloalanine derivative to thereby give N-protected-aziridine-2-carboxylic acid which is protected by a benzenesulfonyl group substituted by nitro at the 2- and/or 4-positions and then treating this product with an organic metal reagent. According to this process, natural and unnatural optically active amino acids can be produced from inexpensive materials by using simple procedures.

Abstract: An optically active amino acid derivative is produced by N-protecting an optically active 3-haloalanine derivative followed by cyclization, or cyclizing this derivative followed by N-protection to thereby give an optically active N-protected-aziridine-2-carboxylic acid derivative which is protected by a benzenesulfonyl group substituted by nitro at the 2- and/or 4-positions and then treating this product with an organic metal reagent, or by N-protecting an optically active 3-haloalanine derivative to thereby give N-protected-aziridine-2-carboxylic acid which is protected by a benzenesulfonyl group substituted by nitro at the 2- and/or 4-positions and then treating this product with an organic metal reagent. According to this process, natural and unnatural optically active amino acids can be produced from inexpensive materials by using simple procedures.

Abstract: A process for efficiently preparing an optically active chloropropanediol derivative, especially (S)-1-benzyloxy-3-chloro-2-propanol, which has a high optical purity and is useful as an intermediate for medicines. The process comprises treating an inexpensive racemic chloropropanediol derivative with a nitroxyl compound and an oxidizing agent to convert it into a chlorohydroxyacetone derivative and then stereospecifically reducing the carbonyl group of the chlorohydroxyacetone derivative by the action of either a carbonyl-reducing enzyme having the ability to stereospecifically reduce the chlorohydroxyacetone derivative or an optically treated culture of a microorganism having the ability to yield the carbonyl-reducing enzyme. Thus, an optically active chloropropanediol derivative is prepared.

Abstract: An optically active amino acid derivative is produced by N-protecting an optically active 3-haloalanine derivative followed by cyclization, or cyclizing this derivative followed by N-protection to thereby give an optically active N-protected-aziridine-2-carboxylic acid derivative which is protected by a benzenesulfonyl group substituted by nitro at the 2- and/or 4-positions and then treating this product with an organic metal reagent, or by N-protecting an optically active 3-haloalanine derivative to thereby give N-protected-aziridine-2-carboxylic acid which is protected by a benzenesulfonyl group substituted by nitro at the 2- and/or 4-positions and then treating this product with an organic metal reagent.

Abstract: A process for efficiently preparing an optically active chloropropanediol derivative, especially (S)-1-benzyloxy-3-chloro-2-propanol, which has a high optical purity and is useful as an intermediate for medicines. The process comprises treating an inexpensive racemic chloropropanediol derivative with a nitroxyl compound and an oxidizing agent to convert it into a chlorohydroxyacetone derivative and then stereospecifically reducing the carbonyl group of the chlorohydroxyacetone derivative by the action of either a carbonyl-reducing enzyme having the ability to stereospecifically reduce the chlorohydroxyacetone derivative or an optically treated culture of a microorganism having the ability to yield the carbonyl-reducing enzyme. Thus, an optically active chloropropanediol derivative is prepared.

Abstract: A process for producing a 3-(3-pyridyl)-1-propanol derivative of use as a pharmaceutical intermediate expediently with an inexpensive material is provided.

Abstract: A process for producing (2R, 3S)-3-amino-4-phenylbutane-1,2-epoxide compounds which comprises treating a (2S, 3S)-3-amino-1-halo-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutane compound or a (2S, 3S)-3-amino-4-phenylbutane-1,2-epoxide with a carboxylic acid quaternary ammonium salt or a carboxylic acid metal salt a quaternary ammonium salt and a quaternary ammonium salt, to give a (2S, 3S)-1-acyloxy-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutane compound, further treating the same with a sulfonic acid halide in the presence of an organic base to give a (2S, 3S)-1-acyloxy-3-amino-2-sulfonyloxy-4-phenylbutane compound, furthermore treating said compound with an inorganic base. An intermediate for the production of an HIV protease inhibitor can be produced from L-phenylalanine.

Abstract: A process for producing (2R,3S)-3-amino-4-phenylbutane-1,2-epoxide compounds which comprises treating a (2S,3S)-3-amino-1-halo-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutane compound a (2S,3S)-3-amino-4-phenylbutane-1,2-epoxide with a carboxylic acid quaternary ammonium salt or a carboxylic acid metal salt a quaternary ammonium salt and a quaternary ammonium salt, to give a (2S,3S)-1-acyloxy-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutane compound, further treating the same with a sulfonic acid halide in the presence of an organic base to give a (2S,3S)-1-acyloxy-3-amino-2-sulfonyloxy-4-phenylbutane compound furthermore treating said compound with an inorganic base.

Abstract: A process for producing (2R,3S)-3-amino-4-phenylbutane-1,2-epoxide compounds which comprises treating a (2S,3S)-3-amino-1-halo-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutane compound or a (2S,3S)-3-amino-4-phenylbutane-1,2-epoxide with a carboxylic acid quaternary ammonium salt or a carboxylic acid metal salt a quaternary ammonium salt and a quaternary ammonium salt, to give a (2S,3S)-1-acyloxy-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutane compound, further treating the same with a sulfonic acid halide in the presence of an organic base to give a (2S,3S)-1-acyloxy-3-amino-2-sulfonyloxy-4-phenylbutane compound, furthermore treating said compound with an inorganic base.