Japan Tobacco Inc.

Hideyuki Kuno

Hajime Matsushita

Kyoko Takahashi

Makoto Shibagaki

Masataka Mori

Ichiro Honda

Disclosed is a method of obtaining (S)-(-)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-2-pyridone (2) and (R)-(+)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-2-pyridone (3) by resolving a racemic mixture of the compounds (2) and (3). More specifically, disclosed is a method of obtaining the optically active nicotine derivatives (2) and (3) shown below, which comprises steps of binding (.+-.)-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)-2-pyridone to a sugar derivative, resolving the obtained compound into two types of stereoisomers, and treating them under an acidic condition. ##STR1##

Optical resolution method of a nicotine derivate

Method of producing aldehyde by oxidation of primary alcohol

Levoglucosenone is prepared by reaction sequence using 1,6-anhydro-.beta.-D-galactopyranose as a starting material. First, the starting material is reacted with ortho formate, obtaining an ortho ester of said starting material. Then, the ortho ester is placed under the conditions for a reductive elimination reaction of the ortho formate part of said ortho ester, thereby converting said ortho ester to a 1,6-anhydro-3,4-dideoxy derivative. The dideoxy derivative is placed under the conditions for oxidation of the hydroxy group of said dideoxy derivative, thereby forming levoglucosenone.

Method of preparing levoglucosenone

A method of preparing an acetal or ketal from a corresponding aldehyde or ketone is disclosed. A hydrous oxide of an element of Group IV of the Periodic Table is used as a catalyst, and the aldehyde or ketone is caused to react with an alcohol. The hydrous oxide can be obtained by partially dehydrating a hydroxide of the corresponding element. The method does not require an acid catalyst and is applicable to a carbonyl compound which is not stable in acids.

Growing community of inventors

Yokohama, Japan

Hideyuki Kuno