Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing an optically active form of a compound represented by the formula (I) having a steroid C17,20-lyase inhibitory activity and is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of prostatism, tumor such as breast cancer, and the like or a salt thereof, which method includes reacting a mixture of optically active compounds of a naphthalene derivative represented by the formula: wherein R is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, R1 is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or an aromatic heteromonocyclic group, R2 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, * shows the position of an asymmetric carbon, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, a hydroxy group, a thiol group, an amino group, a carbamoyl group, an acyl group or a halogen atom, and R7 is bonded with R6 or R8 to form, together with a carbon atom on a naphthalene ring, a 5 or 6-membered ring containing an oxygen atom, with an op

Abstract: 2,4-Oxazolidinedione derivative represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R stands for an optionally substituted hydrocarbon residue or heterocyclic group; Y stands for a group represented by --CO--, --CH(OH)-- or --NR.sup.3 -- (wherein R.sup.3 stands for an optionally substituted alkyl group); m is 0 or 1; n is 0, 1 or 2; A stands for a C.sub.1-7 divalent aliphatic hydrocarbon group; R.sup.1 stands for hydrogen or an alkyl group; ring E stands for a benzene ring having 1 or 2 substituents; L and M respectively stand for hydrogen, or L and M may optionally be combined with each other to form a bond; with a proviso that the partial formula: ##STR2## does not include the formula: ##STR3## wherein R' stands for an alkyl group; or a salt thereof, which has excellent actions of lowering blood sugar and lipid in blood.

Abstract: The invention relates to optically active compounds represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3, ##STR2## and M are defined as in the specification, methods and intermediates for their preparation, liquid crystal compositions comprising at least one optically active compound of formula I and their use in electrooptical display, switching and modulation devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to optically active compounds represented by the general formula I ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3, and M are defined as in the specification, methods and intermediates for their preparation, liquid crystal compositions comprising at least one optically active compound of formula I and their use in electrooptical display, switching and modulation devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to optically active compounds represented by the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3, ##STR2## and M are defined as in the specification, methods and intermediates for their preparation, liquid crystal compositions comprising at least one optically active compound of formula I and their use in electrooptical display, switching and modulation devices.

Abstract: A (2R,3S)-3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyrate is efficiently and selectively produced by microbial asymmetric reduction of a 2-methyl-3-oxobutyrate with a bacterial strain or its processed material.

Abstract: A (1R,2S)-2-hydroxycycloalkanecarboxylic acid ester is efficiently and selectively produced by microbial asymmetric reduction of a 2-oxocycloalkanecarboxylic acid ester with a bacterial strain or its processed material.

Abstract: There are disclosed an optically active compound represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein n, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3, and M are defined as in the detailed explanation, and *-marked carbon atoms are each an asymmetric carbon atom; a liquid crystal composition comprising at least one optically active compound of said general formula and a liquid crystal optical modulator using the composition thereof.

Abstract: The present invention discloses dichiral compounds represented by the general formula ##STR1## (R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2, Q.sub.3, M and n have the same definitions as in the description portion of the specification), intermediates for preparation of said compounds, liquid crystal compositions comprising said compounds, and liquid crystal optical modulators using said compositions.

Abstract: A compound of the general formul: ##STR1## wherein .alpha. .beta. means a saturated bond or a double bond; each R independently of one another is a methyl group or a methoxy group, or two R's taken together represent a group of --CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH--; n is zero or an integer of 1 through 9; when .alpha. .beta. is a saturated bond, R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom or hydroxyl group, and when .alpha. .beta. is a double bond, R.sub.2 is a hydrogen atom; when .alpha. .beta. is a double bond or when R.sub.2 is a hydroxyl group, R.sub.1 is a carboxyl group, a group of CH.sub.2.sub.2m OH (wherein m is an integer of 1 through 3) or a group of ##STR2## (wherein m is an integer of 1 through 3); when .alpha. .beta. is a saturated bond and R.sup.2 is a hydrogen atom, R.sub.1 is a hydroxymethyl group or a group of ##STR3## (wherein m is an integer of 1 through 3) has pharmacological actions such as membrane stabilizing activity (e.g.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing a 4-O-sulfonyluracil derivative of the formula ##STR1## [wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl and alkoxy, R.sup.2 is glycosyl having protected hydroxyls; and --SO.sub.2 R.sup.3 is an organic sulfonyl] which comprises reacting an uracil derivative of the formula ##STR2## [wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are as defined above] with an organic sulfonylating agent of the formula R.sup.3 SO.sub.2 X [wherein R.sup.3 SO.sub.2 is an organic sulfonyl and X is halogen] in the presence of potassium carbonate. The obtained 4-O-sulfonyluracil is further subjected to amination. The processes are industrially adavantageous and produce cytosine derivatives such as cytidine in high yield.

Abstract: A cytosine nucleoside is produced by reacting a peracylcytosine with a hydroxy-protected monosaccharide or a hydroxy-protected nucleoside whose base moiety is other than cytosine and, if necessary, removing the hydroxy-protecting group.

Abstract: Novel spirobenzofuranone compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl and --X-- is ##STR2## and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, have gastric secretion inhibitive, antiulcer activities, and are of value as drugs.

Abstract: Novel compounds of the formulae ##STR1## wherein R represents lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, A represents --CH.sub.2 --, --CO-- or ##STR2## n represents an integer of 1 to 8, X represents hydrogen or hydroxyl which may be protected and Y represents hydroxyl which may be protected, and their esters show an excellent action on the lysosomal membranes of cells, and exhibit excellent pharmacological activities such as physiologic host defense control activity, especially immuno-potentiating activity.

Abstract: Novel compounds of the formulae ##STR1## wherein R represents lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, A represents --CH.sub.2 --, --CO-- or ##STR2## n represents an integer of 1 to 8, X represents hydrogen or hydroxyl which may be protected and Y represents hydroxyl which may be protected, and their esters show an excellent action on the lysosomal membranes of cells, and exhibit excellent pharmacological activities such as physiologic host defense control activity, especially immuno-potentiating activity.

Abstract: New spiro compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of 1 to 4, and X is halogen, lower alkyl, nitro, amino which may be substituted, hydroxyl which may be substituted, acyl, carboxyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl which may be substituted, sulfamoyl which may be substituted, lower alkylthio or lower alkylsulfonyl, or two of X at the 5- and 6-positions together form --CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH--, exhibit inhibitory activity to thrombocyte aggregation and are useful for the prophylaxis or treatment of cardiovascular disturbance such as thrombosis.

Abstract: Novel 7-acetylspirobenzofuranone compound of the formula: ##STR1## has gastric secretion inhibitive, antiinflammatory and analgesic activities, and is of value as drugs.

Abstract: Novel spirobenzofuranone compounds of the formula: ##STR1## have gastric secretion inhibitive, antiinflammatory and analgesic activities, and are of value as drugs.

Abstract: Novel spiro compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein Ring A represents a benzene ring or a naphthalene ring, said rings being unsubstituted or substituted by at least one of lower alkyl, nitro, halogen, amino which may optionally be substituted, hydroxyl which may optionally be substituted, acyl, sulfamoyl, carboxyl, lower alkoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl which may optionally be substituted, ureido which may optionally be substituted, thioureido which may optionally be substituted, lower alkylthio, lower alkylsulfinyl, lower alkylsulfonyl, aminomethyl which may optionally be substituted, cyano and phenyl, have gastric secretion inhibitive, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, and are of value as drugs.

Abstract: Novel compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein R represents lower alkyl or lower alkoxy, A represents --CH.sub.2 --, --CO-- or ##STR2## n represents an integer of 1 to 8, X represents hydrogen or hydroxyl which may be protected and Y represents hydroxyl which may be protected, and their esters show an excellent action on the lysosomal membranes of cells, and exhibit excellent pharmacological activities such as physiologic host defense control activity, especially immuno-potentiating activity.