Abstract: The invention provides an efficient method of producing optically active N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol by an enzymatic reaction stereoselectively reducing N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone. The invention consists in a method of producing optically active N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol which comprises a step of obtaining a reaction mixture by treating N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinone with cells or a culture of a microorganism, or a material derived therefrom, and a step of recovering optically active N-benzyl-3-pyrrolidinol from said reaction mixture, in which method said microorganism mentioned above is a microorganism belonging to the genus Dipodascus, Debaryomyces, Cryptococcus, Pichia, Rhodosporidium, Trichosporon, Micrococcus, Komagataella, Ogataea or Zygosaccharomyces.

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

Abstract: A novel glycerol derivative, a process for preparing the same, and a process for preparing a triazole derivative. An optically active 2-arylglycerol derivative which is novel and useful as a synthetic intermediate of medicament is provided, and furthermore, (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-propane-1,2-diol, which is useful as an antifungal agent, is prepared.

Abstract: A novel glycerol derivative, a process for preparing the same, and a process for preparing a triazole derivative. An optically active 2-arylglycerol derivative which is novel and useful as a synthetic intermediate of medicament is provided, and furthermore, (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-propane-1,2-diol, which is useful as an antifungal agent, is prepared.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel glycerol derivative and a process for preparing the same, and a process for preparing a triazole derivative.According to the present invention, an optical active 2-arylglycerol derivative which is a novel and useful as a synthetic intermediate of medicament can be provided and furthermore, (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazole-1-yl)-propane-1,2-diol which is useful as an antifungal agent can be prepared.

Abstract: A process for preparing 5,6-dihydro-4-hydroxy-(S)-6-methyl-thieno[2,3-b]thiopyran-7,7-dioxide having the formula (II): ##STR1## which comprises subjecting 5,6-dihydro-4-oxo-(S)-6-methyl-thieno[2,3-b]thiopyran-7,7-dioxide having the formula (I): ##STR2## to the action of a microorganism to reduce the thienothiopyran derivative having the formula (I), and collecting 5,6-dihydro-4-hydroxy-(S)-6-methyl-thieno-[2,3-b]thiopyran-7,7-dioxide having the formula (II) from the reaction mixture, wherein said microorganism belongs to the genus selected from the group consisting of Ambrosiozyma, Arthroascus, Ashbya, Candida, Cryptococcus, Hansenula, Kluyveromyces, Lipomyces, Lodderomyces, Metschnikowia, Pachysolen, Pichia, Rhodosporidium, Rhodotorula, Saccharomyces, Saccharomycopsis, Schwanniomyces, Sporidiobolus, Spolobolomyces, Stephanoascus, Trigonopsis, Trichosporon and Wingea, according to which, a simple and effective. process for preparing 5,6-dihydro-4-hydroxy-(S)-6-methyl-thieno-[2,3-b]thiopyran-7,7-dioxide.