Abstract: A process for the preparation of ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoro-3(R)-hydroxybutanoate, wherein the ester functional group of the (S) enantiomer of ethyl (.+-.)-4,4,4-trifluoro-3-hydroxybutanoate which comprises (R) and (S) is selectively hydrolysed in aqueous medium, by means of a lipase, and the non-hydrolysed (R) enantiomer is then extracted and used in the preparation of 4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3(R)-butanediol.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of one or both enantiomers of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-chloroethanol, which comprises an enantioselective enzymatic hydrolysis of (.+-.)-.alpha.-(4-chlorophenyl)chloroethyl acetate by means of an enzyme which is horse liver acetone powder, lipase PS from Pseudomonas fluorescens, lipase AK from Pseudomonas or the lipase from Candida antarctica, to give a mixture of unhydrolysed R-(-)-.alpha.-(4-chlorophenyl)chloroethyl acetate and S-(+)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-chloroethanol, and optional separation of R-(-)-.alpha.-(4-chlorophenyl)chloroethyl acetate and optional hydrolysis of it to give R-(-)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-chloroethanol and use of the enantiomers of 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-chlorethanol for the preparation of the enantiomers of eliprodil and of their salts.

Abstract: 3,3a,4,5-Tetrahydro-1H-oxazolo[3,4-a]quinolin-1-one derivatives of formula (I) ##STR1## in which: n is 0 or 1,R.sub.1 represents a hydrogen atom or an ethenyl, methyl, ethyl, phenyl, hydroxymethyl or methoxymethyl group, and(i) R.sub.2 is a methyl, trifluoromethyl or cyano group, R.sub.3 is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl or benzyloxy group and R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are hydrogen atoms,or (ii) R.sub.2 and R.sub.4 together form a --(CH.sub.2).sub.4 -- group, R.sub.3 is a hydroxyl group and R.sub.5 is a hydrogen atom,or (iii) R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 together form an --O--(CH.sub.2).sub.3 -- group, and R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are hydrogen atoms,or (iv) R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 together form a --(CH.sub.2).sub.4 group, R.sub.3 is a hydroxyl group and R.sub.4 is a hydrogen atom,are useful as selective inhibitors of MAO-A or as mixed inhibitors of MAO-A and MAO-B.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## in which Y represents hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, methyl or methoxy, R.sub.1 represents phenyl substituted by fluorine, methyl, methoxy, trifluoromethyl or phenyl, or R.sub.1 represents 2-thienyl, R.sub.2 represents methyl, and R.sub.3 represents (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl, or phenyl-(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2)-alkyl optionally substituted on the ring by 2 to 3 methoxy groups, or 2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl, or R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 form, with the adjacent nitrogen, 4-phenyl(1-piperidyl), 4-phenylmethyl(1-piperidyl), 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-isoquinolyl, 6-methoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-isoquinolyl, 5,8-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-isoquinolyl, 6,7-dimethoxy 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-isoquinolyl, 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepin-3-yl, or 7,8-dimethoxy-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepin-3-yl, and X represents carbonyl or sulphonyl, and their salts are useful as neuroprotective and antiiischaemic agents.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of methyl (-)-(2R,3S)-2,3-epoxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)propionate, which comprises subjecting the dextrorotatory (2S,3R) enantiomer, present in a starting mixture containing both the levorotatory (2R,3S and dextrorotatory (2S,3R) enantiomers, to a transesterification reaction, in an anhydrous medium and in the presence of an enzyme which does not affect the levorotatory (2R,3S) enantiomer. The latter is an intermediate for the synthesis of compounds such as Diltiazem.

Abstract: A compound which is an N-(imidazolymethyl) diphenylazomethine derivative of the general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is chlorine or methyl,X is a thio or sulphonyl group, andR.sub.2 is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, allyl, cyclohexyl or 2-pyridyl group, a phenyl group optionally substituted by methyl or one or two halogen atoms, or a benzyl group optionally substituted by a halogen atom, a methyl group or a methoxy group, or an addition salt with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid finds use in the treatment of ulcers.

Abstract: A compound, in the form of a pure optical isomer or a racemate, which is a dibenzo[be]oxepinacetic acid of the general formula (I) ##STR1## in which R1, R2 and R3, which may be the same or different, each represent hydrogen or methyl, XX represents a carbon-carbon bond or two hydrogen atoms, and YY represents a carbon-carbon bond or two hydrogen atoms, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has useful therapeutic properties, especially as an anti-inflammatory.

Abstract: Compounds of general formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1, taken separately, denotes a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, andR.sub.2, taken separately, denotes a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group or a phenylthio or phenylsulphonyl group, or alternativelyR.sub.1 and R.sub.2 together form an ethano bridge or, together with the two carbon atoms 8 and 9, form a fused benzene ring,R.sub.3 denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group andR.sub.4 denotes a hydrogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group or a cation of a base which is acceptable in pharmacology, the group CH(R.sub.3)COOR.sub.4 being at position 2 or 3. have uses in treatment of inflammation, pain and undesirable platelet aggregation.