| abstract |
A process for preparing an N-acylphenylalanine represented by the formula (II): <IMAGE> (II) wherein R3 and R4 mean individually a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, alkoxy, phenoxy, hydroxy or methylenedioxy group, and R denotes a methyl or phenyl group, which comprises catalytically reducing an N-acyl- beta -phenylserine represented by the formula (I): <IMAGE> (I) wherein R1 and R2 mean individually a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, alkoxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy or methylenedioxy group, and R has the same meaning as defined in the formula (II), in the presence of a reducing catalyst or both reducing catalyst and acid, in a solvent. |