TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The metal is palladium on carbon.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Process: The hydrolysis is carried out in the presence of triethylamine, n-propylamine, pyridine, N-methylmorpholine, diisopropyl amine or diisopropylethylamine (preferably n-propylamine). The process further involves reacting ganciclovir (III) with protected valine compound of formula (VI) in presence of at least one suitable coupling agent and in at least one suitable solvent to provide the compound (VII). The process further involves reacting the compound (III) with the compound (VI) in presence of triethylamine, pyridine, diisopropylethylamine, 1,8-diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene (DBU), 1,4-diazabicyclo(2.2.2)octane (DABCO), 1-methylmorpholine, 1-methylpiperidine, 1,5-diazabicyclo(4.3.0)non-5-ene, N,N-dimethylpiperazine, N,N-dimethylaniline, 4-(dimethylamino)-pyridine (DMAP), hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA), tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), collidine, or 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyridine (TEMP), where the reacting is in presence of 4-(dimethylamino)-pyridine (DMAP). The process further involves converting the compound (VIII) to valganciclovir or its salt, where the converting is by catalytic hydrogenation using hydrogen gas in the presence of a metal and is carried out in the presence of suitable solvents (preferably alcohol solvent, especially methanol). Preferred Components: The alcohol solvent is methanol. The coupling agent is N-hydroxybenzo triazole, 4,5-dicyanoimidazole, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, dicyclopentylcarbodiimide, diisopropylcarbodiimide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride, 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole, cyclohexylisopropylcarbodiimide, bis((4-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolyl))-methyl)carbodiimide, N,N'-bis(2-oxo-3-oxazolidinyl)-phosphinic chloride, an acid chloride, or ethyl chloroformate (preferably dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, dicyclopentylcarbodiimide, diisopropylcarbodiimide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride, cyclohexylisopropylcarbodiimide, or bis((4-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolyl))-methyl)carbodiimide, especially dicyclohexylcarbodiimide). The suitable solvent includes a polar aprotic solvent (preferably dimethylsulfoxide). Preferred Definitions:    P1=benzyloxycarbonyl.    ACTIVITY - Antiinflammatory; Ophthalmological; Virucide.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - Cytomegalovirus (CMV) nucleoside analogue DNA polymerase inhibitor. No biological data given.    SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - Preparation of 1 Compound i.e. ganciclovir mono-L-benzyloxycarbonyl-valinate of formula (VIIIa) is specified as compound (VIII). Preparation of 1 Compound i.e. ganciclovir bis(L-benzyloxycarbonyl-valinate) of formula (VIIa) is specified as (VII).    EXAMPLE - To a solution of mono-(carbobenzyloxy -L-valyl)-ester of ganciclovir (6.5 g) in ethanol (208 ml) in an autoclave vessel was added aqueous HCl (1.62 ml) and 10% palladium on carbon (50% wet, 0.78 g), and a hydrogen pressure of 0.8-1 kg/cm2 was maintained for 6-7 hours at 25-30 degrees C. The mass was filtered and the collected solid was washed with ethanol (30 ml). The filtrate was evaporated below 40 degrees C to remove ethanol and the volume was adjusted to 10 ml with water. The filtrate was washed with toluene (3x 13 ml) and 1-butanol (2x 13 ml) at 25-30 degrees C. Isopropyl alcohol (39 ml) was added to the mixture and stirred for 15 hours for solid formation at 25-30 degrees C. Isopropyl alcohol (32.5 ml) was added and the mixture was stirred for 2-3 hours at 25-30 degrees C. The mass was cooled and formed solid was collected by filtration at -10 to -15 degrees C, washed with chilled isopropyl alcohol (13 ml), and dried under reduced pressure at 40-50 degrees C to obtain valganciclovir hydrochloride salt (yield 3.6 g, HPLC purity 96.25%).