GENERAL STEPS: (E)-4-Trifluoromethylcinnamic acid (10.0 g, 46.3 mmol) was mixed with 10 wt% Pd/C catalyst (250 mg) in ethanol (100 mL). The reaction mixture was placed under hydrogen atmosphere (6 bar) and the reaction was stirred at room temperature for 21 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the catalyst was removed by filtration through a diatomaceous earth pad and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure to remove the solvent to afford 3-(4-trifluoromethyl)phenylpropionic acid as a white solid (10.1 g, 46.1 mmol, 100% yield). The structure of the product was confirmed by 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ 2.73 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H), 3.03 (t, J = 7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.33 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.56 (d, J = 8.1 Hz, 2H).
