Abstract: A substituted guanidine derivative represented by the general formula: ##STR1## is useful as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for diseases caused by the acceleration of the sodium/proton (Na.sup.+ /H.sup.+) exchange transport system, for example, hypertension, arrhythmia, angina pectoris, cardiac hypertrophy, diabetes mellitus, organ disorders associated with ischemia or ischemic reperfusion, cerebroischemic disorders, diseases caused by excessive cell proliferation, or diseases caused by endothelial cell injury.

Abstract: There is provided a composition for inhibiting the production or secretion of tumor necrosis factor effective for the treatment of cachexia, septic shock, multiple organ failure, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, Behcet disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), graft versus host disease (GvHD), malaria, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), meningitis, hepatitis and Type II diabetes mellitus. The composition comprises a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of formula (1).

Abstract: A process for selective production of a threo-epoxy compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each a lower alkyl group, which comprises reacting a ketone compound of the formula: ##STR2## wherein Ar, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each as defined above with a sulfur methylide of the formula: ##STR3## wherein A is a lower alkyl group or a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group and B is a lower alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or a di(lower)-alkylamino group in an aqueous organic solvent.

Abstract: Novel phenylserine derivatives of the formula: ##STR1## and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions, and a process for preparing the compounds are disclosed. The phenylserine derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts are capable of inhibiting the biosynthesis of leucotrienes and/or antagonistic activity against SRS-A and hence are useful for prophylaxis and treatment of various allergic diseases (e.g. bronchial asthma, allergic nasitis, urticaria), ischemic heart diseases, ischemic encephalopathy, inflammation, or the like.

Abstract: 9-Aminonaphthacene derivative having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are both hydrogen atoms or either one of them is a hydrogen atom and the other is hydroxy group or methoxy group; R.sup.3 is acetyl group or 1-hydroxyethyl group; R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom; R.sup.5 is a hydrogen atom, hydroxy group, lower alkanoyloxy group, amino group, halogen-substituted lower alkanoylamino group or morpholino group; R.sup.6 is a hydrogen atom, hydroxy group, lower alkanoyloxy group or tetrahydropyranyloxy group; R.sup.7 is a hydrogen atom or methyl group; R is a hydrogen atom; and n is zero or one, which is useful as anti-cancer chemical agents with lower toxicity and with little local irritation and is able to orally be applied.

Abstract: A process for producing racemic or optically active threo- or erythro-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine which comprises phthaloylating the amine group of a racemic or optically active threo- or erythro-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine derivative to yield a racemic or optically active threo- or erythro-N-phthaloyl-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine derivative and removing the phthaloyl group from the racemic or optically active threo- or erythro-N-phthaloyl-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-serine to yield the racemic or optically active threo- or erythro-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine.

Abstract: A process for preparing an optically active cis-1,3-dibenzylhexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-d]imidazole-2,4-dione of the formula: ##STR1## wherein an asterisk (*) indicates an asymmetric carbon, Bzl represents a benzyl group and the 3a- and 6a-positions take the cis-configuration, which comprises reducing selectively an optically active cis-imidazolidinedicarboxylic acid monoester of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group and Bzl is as defined above with a reducing agent at either one of the carboxyl group and the alkoxycarbonyl group in the said monoester, followed by cyclization.

Abstract: Aminonaphthacene derivatives of the formula: ##STR1## wherein A is either one of the following groups: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a group of the formula: --COR.sup.7, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each a lower alkoxy group or, when taken together, represent an ethylenedioxy group or an oxo group, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 are both hydrogen atoms or either one of them is a hydrogen atom and the other is a group of the formula: --COR.sup.7, R.sup.6 is a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or a group of the formula: --OCOR.sup.7 and R.sup.7 is a lower alkyl group, a halo(lower)alkyl group, a phenyl group or a halophenyl group, which are useful as anti-microbial and/or anti-tumor agents, or as intermediates in their production.

Abstract: A process for preparing an optically active cis-1,3-dibenzylhexahydro-1H-furo[3,4-d]imidazole-2,4-dione of the formula: ##STR1## wherein an asterisk (*) indicates an asymmetric carbon, Bzl represents a benzyl group and the 3a- and 6a-positions take the cis-configuration, which comprises reducing selectively an optically active cis-imidazolidinedicarboxylic acid monoester of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl group and Bzl is as defined above with a reducing agent at either one of the carboxyl group and the alkoxycarbonyl group in the said monoester, followed by cyclization, the said monoester being the one obtainable by hydrolysis of a cis-imidazolidinedicarboxylic acid diester of the formula: ##STR3## wherein R and Bzl are each as defined above with an enzymatic material having a capability of hydrolyzing the ester group in the said diester.

Abstract: A process for producing an optically active threo-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine represented by the formula ##STR1## which is useful as a remedy for peripheral orthostatic hypotension or as an antidepressant, which process comprises treating threo-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)serine or an N-carbobenzoxy derivative thereof represented by the formula ##STR2## wherein A represents a hydrogen atom or a carbobenzoxy group, with a Lewis acid to form threo-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine or an N-carbobenzoxy derivative thereof represented by the formula ##STR3## wherein A is as defined above, and, if A is a carbobenzoxy group, catalytically reducing the resulting compound of formula [2]; a racemic or optically active threo-N-carbobenzoxy-3-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)serine represented by the formula ##STR4## which is a novel compound useful as an intermediate in the above synthesis; and a process for producing said novel compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the optical resolution of DL-.alpha.-methyl-.beta.-acylthiopropionic acids of the formula [I], ##STR1## wherein R is a lower alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, phenyl or substituted phenyl bearing methyl or chloro radical; a method for the racemization of an optically active .alpha.-methyl-.beta.-acylthiopropionic acid of the formula [Ia], ##STR2## wherein R is as defined above; and a process for the synthesis of captopril of the formula [II], ##STR3## using the D-acid [Ia] as an intermediate.The optically active .alpha.-methyl-.beta.-acylthiopropionic acids are useful as intermediates for the production of medicines, for example, captopril or its congeners.

Abstract: A process for the optical resolution of DL-.alpha.-methyl-.beta.-acylthiopropionic acid, which comprises contacting a DL-.alpha.-methyl-.beta.-acylthiopropionic acid of the formula, ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is acetyl or benzoyl which may be substituted with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl or a halogen atom, with an optically active amine of the formula, ##STR2## wherein R.sub.2 is methyl, isopropyl or isobutyl, to form diastereoisomeric salts, subjecting the formed diastereoisomeric salts to the fractional crystallization in a solvent to separate the D-acid salt from the L-acid salt, and then contacting the individual diastereoisomeric salt with acid to give D-.alpha.-methyl-.beta.-acylthiopropionic acid and L-.alpha.-methyl-.beta.-acylthiopropionic acid, the former being useful as an intermediate for synthesizing captopril useful as an antihypertensive agent.

Abstract: Improved process for the production of optical aCTIVE (D- or L-) threo-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine, which comprises subjecting racemic threo-3-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)-N-carbobenzyloxyserine to optical resolution by using as a resolving reagent an optical active amino alcohol derivative, and then subjecting the resulting optical active (D- or L-) threo-3-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)-N-carbobenzyloxyserine to hydrogenolysis.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the optical resolution of DL-.alpha.-methyl-.beta.-acylthiopropionic acids of the formula [I], ##STR1## wherein R is a lower alkyl group having 1-4 carbon atoms, phenyl or substituted phenyl bearing methyl or chloro radical; a method for the racemization of an optically active .alpha.-methyl-.beta.-acylthiopropionic acid of the formula [Ia], ##STR2## wherein R is as defined above; and a process for the synthesis of captopril of the formula [II], ##STR3## using the D-acid [Ia] as an intermediate. The optically active .alpha.-methyl-.beta.-acylthiopropionic acids are useful as intermediates for the production of medicines, for example, captopril or its congeners.

Abstract: A method for separation of diastereoisomeric 3-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)serine, which comprises reacting a mixture of the threo isomer and erythro isomer of 3-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)serine with a mineral acid and separating the mixture of the resulting mineral acid salts of the threo isomer and erythro isomer into each mineral acid salt by a conventional fractional crystallization utilizing the difference in solubility of the mineral acid salts, and optionally converting the separated mineral acid salt into a free isomer. Said 3-(3,4-dibenzyloxyphenyl)serine or a mineral acid salt thereof thus separated can give 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)serine which is a precursor of norepinephrine and which has activity in the circulatory system or psychotropic activities by removing the benzyl group therefrom.