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 present invention provides a heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (1): The compound of the present invention has a wide treatment spectrum for mental disorders including central nervous system disorders, no side effects and high safety.

Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to produce an anti-form of an optically active ?-hydroxy-?-aminocarboxylic acid ester efficiently, simply and industrially advantageously. The objective can be accomplished by directly and selectively producing the anti-form of the optically active ?-hydroxy-?-aminocarboxylic acid ester by asymmetric reduction of a ?-keto-?-aminocarboxylic acid ester using an optically active amine complex as a catalyst. Further, the ?-keto-?-aminocarboxylic acid ester as a raw material can be produced at a high yield by reacting a glycine derivative with a carboxylic acid derivative.

Abstract: A heterocyclic compound or a salt thereof represented by the formula (1): where R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; A represents a lower alkylene group or lower alkenylene group; and R1 represents an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group. The compound of the present invention has a wide treatment spectrum for mental disorders including central nervous system disorders, no side effects and high safety.

Abstract: A heterocyclic compound or a salt thereof represented by the formula (1): where R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; A represents a lower alkylene group or lower alkenylene group; and R1 represents an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group. The compound of the present invention has a wide treatment spectrum for mental disorders including central nervous system disorders, no side effects and high safety.

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 present invention provides a heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (1): The compound of the present invention has a wide treatment spectrum for mental disorders including central nervous system disorders, no side effects and high safety.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (1): The compound of the present invention has a wide treatment spectrum for mental disorders including central nervous system disorders, no side effects and high safety.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heterocyclic compound represented by the general formula (1): The compound of the present invention has a wide treatment spectrum for mental disorders including central nervous system disorders, no side effects and high safety.

Abstract: It is an objective of the present invention to produce an anti-form of an optically active ?-hydroxy-?-aminocarboxylic acid ester efficiently, simply and industrially advantageously. The objective can be accomplished by directly and selectively producing the anti-form of the optically active ?-hydroxy-?-aminocarboxylic acid ester by asymmetric reduction of a ?-keto-?-aminocarboxylic acid ester using an optically active amine complex as a catalyst. Further, the ?-keto-?-aminocarboxylic acid ester as a raw material can be produced at a high yield by reacting a glycine derivative with a carboxylic acid derivative.

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: A heterocyclic compound or a salt thereof represented by the formula (1): where R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group; A represents a lower alkylene group or lower alkenylene group; and R1 represents an aromatic group or a heterocyclic group. The compound of the present invention has a wide treatment spectrum for mental disorders including central nervous system disorders, no side effects and high safety.

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 present invention provides a method for easily producing an (R)-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylamino]-pentanoic acid amide derivative useful for an intermediate for pharmaceutical products, particularly an inhibitor of a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) from easily available raw materials. In the present invention, (S)-N-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-hydroxypentanoic acid amide prepared from easily available raw materials leads a production of (R)-4-ethyl-1-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-azetidinone to give (R)-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylamino]-pentanoic acid amide. Furthermore, (R)-4-ethyl-1-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-azetidinone is reacted with a carbamic acid ester to give an (R)-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylamino]-pentanoic acid amide derivative.

Abstract: A simple and safe method for producing optically active 1,4-benzodioxane derivatives useful as intermediates for pharmaceuticals and the like from inexpensive materials is provided. An optically active triol compound (5) produced by reaction of catechol (2) and optically active 3-halogeno-1,2-propanediol (3) is sulfonylated to form optically active trisulfonate (6), followed by cyclization with a base to yield optically active 1,4-benzodioxane (1).

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: A process for easily producing various optically active chroman derivatives that are useful as pharmaceutical intermediates from inexpensive starting materials is provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for easily producing an (R)-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylamino]-pentanoic acid amide derivative useful for an intermediate for pharmaceutical products, particularly an inhibitor of a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) from easily available raw materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel fluorenone derivatives represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.a -R.sup.g are defined in the specification, and a method for repairing and protecting central or peripheral nerve degeneration comprising use of a fluorenone derivative represented by the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 p and q are as defined in the specification as an active component.