L-styrylalanine (CAS: 52161-76-9, 50 mg, 0.26 mmol) was used as starting material, which was dissolved in methanol (5 mL) and the reaction vessel was flushed with nitrogen. Subsequently, a catalytic amount of 10% palladium/carbon catalyst was added. The reaction vessel was placed under hydrogen atmosphere and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the catalyst was filtered through diatomaceous earth to remove the catalyst. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to remove the organic solvent to afford the target product (S)-2-amino-5-phenylpentanoic acid (51 mg, quantitative yield) as a white powder. The structure of the product was confirmed by 1H-NMR (400 MHz, CD3OD): δ= 7.42-7.25 (m, 5H), 3.71 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H), 2.69 (t, J = 6.4 Hz, 2H), 1.85 (m, 2H), 1.70 (m, 2H). Mass spectrometry result: C11H16NO2 ([M+H]+) calculated value 194.12, measured value 194.4.
