| abstract |
The present invention provides a method of producing an optically active form of a compound represented by the formula (I) having a steroid C17,20-lyase inhibitory activity and is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of prostatism, tumor such as breast cancer, and the like or a salt thereof, which method includes reacting a mixture of optically active compounds of a naphthalene derivative represented by the formula: <CHEM> wherein R is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group, R<1> is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or an aromatic heteromonocyclic group, R<2> is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group, * shows the position of an asymmetric carbon, R<3>, R<4>, R<5>, R<6>, R<7>, R<8> and R<9> are each independently a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group, a hydroxy group, a thiol group, an amino group, a carbamoyl group, an acyl group or a halogen atom, and R<7> is bonded with R<6> or R<8> to form, together with a carbon atom on a naphthalene ring, a 5 or 6-membered ring containing an oxygen atom, with an optically active form of a compound represented by the formula: <CHEM> wherein ring A is a benzene ring, R<10> and R<11> are the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group or a halogen atom, or R<10> and R<11> in combination show an alkylene group, * shows the position of an asymmetric carbon, and ring B and ring C are each an aromatic ring, separating the resulting salt, and isolating the optically active form, and a novel reagent for optical resolution. |