General procedure for the synthesis of methyl 4-hydroxyphenylpropionate from methyl 4-hydroxycinnamate: Pd/C (0.1 g) was added to a solution of methyl (E)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylate (1.0 g, 5.6 mmol) in ethanol (20 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred vigorously at room temperature under hydrogen atmosphere (1 bar) for 21 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the suspension was filtered through a diatomaceous earth pad and evaporated to dryness under vacuum to afford the oily product methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (1.0 g, 5.6 mmol, 99% yield). The structure of the product was confirmed by 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.07 (ddd, J=8.8,2.8,2.0 Hz, 2H), 6.76 (ddd, J=8.8,2.8,2.0 Hz, 2H), 4.72 (br s, 1H), 3.67 (s, 3H), 2.88 (t, J=7.8 Hz, 2H). 2.60 (t, J=7.8Hz, 2H).
