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 process for easily preparing a (S)-&agr;-halomethylpyridine-methanol derivative, which is useful as an intermediate of pharmaceutical products, from inexpensive raw materials. The (S)-&agr;-halomethylpyridine-methanol derivative is prepared by (S)-selectively reducing a 2-haloacetylpyridine derivative using an enzyme source having ability to (S)-selectively reduce a carbonyl group of the 2-haloacetylpyridine derivative, which can be obtained inexpensively. Also, a hydrohalic acid salt of (S)-&agr;-halomethyl-3-pyridine-methanol derivative is isolated and purified as crystal from a (S)-&agr;-halomethyl-3-pyridine-methanol derivative containing impurities using hydrohalic acid and an organic solvent.

Abstract: An enzyme modifying method for converting the coenzyme-dependency of an oxidoreductase is developed. Using this method, a novel carbonyl reductase mutant capable of utilizing NADH as a coenzyme is provided. It is also intended to provide a process for enzymatically producing an optically active (S)-4-halo-3-hydroxybutyric ester by utilizing the carbonyl reductase mutant.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing optically active 3-hydroxypentanenitrile with high yield. Optically active 3-hydroxypentanenitrile is prepared by stereoselectively reducing 3-ketopentanenitrile by action of an enzyme, which asymmetrically reduces 3-ketopentanenitrile to optically active 3-hydroxypentanenitrile. Also, alkali metal salt of 3-ketopentanenitrile, which is a stable compound without problems regarding storage, can be efficiently obtained.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for efficiently producing, on an industrial scale, optically active (R)-2-chloro-1-(3′-chlorophenyl)ethanol which is useful as a raw material for the synthesis of medicines, agricultural chemicals, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method capable of simply producing optically active halopropanediol derivatives useful as pharmaceutical intermediates from inexpensive raw materials.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a process for easily producing optically active N-aryl-1-amino-2-propanol derivatives which are of value as pharmaceutical intermediates from inexpensive starting materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an optically active pyridineethanol derivative. More particularly, it relates to a method of producing an optically active polycyclic pyridineethanol derivative by causing an enzyme or enzyme source to act on polycyclic acetylpyridine derivatives.

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 novel polypeptide for producing tert-butyl (3R,5S)-6-chloro-3,5-dihydroxyhexanoate, a gene encoding the polypeptide, and a method of using the polypeptide, are provided. The polypeptide has an enzyme activity to asymmetrically reduce tert-butyl (S)-6-chloro-5-hydroxy-3-oxohexanoate to tert-butyl (3R,5S)-6-chloro-3,5-dihydroxyhexanoate. The polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO. 1 in the Sequence Listing, or the amino acid sequence having at least one amino acid substitution, insertion, deletion, or addition thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel polypeptide producing (S)-N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol, a DNA coding for it and a method of using them.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for producing optically active 2-[6-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxan-4-yl]acetic acid derivatives, which are of value as intermediates of drugs, from inexpensive starting materials without using any special equipment such as that required for super-low temperature reactions.

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: This invention provides a process for producing optically active 2-[6-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxan-4-yl]acetic acid derivatives, which are of value as intermediates of drugs, from inexpensive starting materials without using any special equipment such as that required for super-low temperature reactions. A process for producing optically active 2-[6-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-dioxan-4-yl]acetic acid derivatives which comprises reacting an acetic acid derivative at a temperature of not less than −30° C.

Abstract: An enzyme having carbonyl reduction activity of reducing a carbonyl compound asymmetrically to produce an optically active alcohol, a DNA coding the enzyme, a plasmid having the DNA, a transformant which is a cell transformed with the plasmid, and a production method of an optically active alcohol using the enzyme and/or the transformed cell are provided.

Abstract: Novel and useful optical active 2-aralkyl-3-sulfonyloxy-1-propanol and 2-aralkyl-3-sulfonyloxypropionic acid are provided by using an optical active 2-aralkyl-3-acyloxy-1-propanol as a starting material. Furthermore, an optical active 2-aralkyl-3-thiopropionic acid, which is an important intermediate of enkephalinase inhibitor, is provided. According to the present invention, industrially useful optical active sulfonic acid ester derivatives can be provided.

Abstract: Relating to an enzyme capable of efficiently converting a ketone compound to an optically active amino compound by transamination, and a process for preparing an optically active amino compound using the enzyme. An (S)-&agr;-phenethylamine:pyruvate transaminase, which acts on (S)-&agr;-phenethylamine and a ketone compound, thereby catalyzing transamination for forming acetophenone and an amino compound corresponding to the ketone compound; a process for preparing an optically active amino compound using the transaminase; and a method for culturing a microorganism for producing the above transaminase, comprising adding to a medium one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of propylamine, 1-butylamine, 2-butylamine, 2-pentylamine, isopropylamine and isobutylamine as an inducer for the enzyme when a microorganism for producing (S)-&agr;-phenethylamine:pyruvate transaminase is cultured.

Abstract: An enzyme having carbonyl reduction activity of reducing a carbonyl compound asymmetrically to produce an optically active alcohol, a DNA coding the enzyme, a plasmid having the DNA, a transformant which is a cell transformed with the plasmid, and a production method of an optically active alcohol using the enzyme and/or the transformed cell are provided.

Abstract: A method of producing an optically active N-methylamino acid of the general formula (2): 1

Abstract: An enzyme having carbonyl reduction activity of reducing a carbonyl compound asymmetrically to produce an optically active alcohol, a DNA coding the enzyme, a plasmid having the DNA, a transformant which is a cell transformed with the plasmid, and a production method of an optically active alcohol using the enzyme and/or the transformed cell are provided.