Exploitation of the Novel Methods for preparing optically Active Compounds and Their Applications

Various methods for the preparation of optically active compounds which have recently been developed by the author, are reviewed. Those exploited novel methods include 1) synthesis of optically active compounds by the novel use of meso compounds ; 2) asymmetric halolactonization reaction ; 3) asymmetric epoxidation in the presence of optically active molybdenum catalysts ; 4) asymmetric reduction of ketones with lithium aluminum hydride partially decomposed by optically active compounds. Efficient syntheses of optically active synthetic intermediates for biologically active compounds such as prostaglandins, steroids, anthracyclines, etc., could be achieved by employing the developed methods.