Benzyl (2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl) acetate (233 mg, 1.0 mmol) was dissolved in methanol (5 mL) at 23 °C and 10 wt% Pd/C catalyst (100 mg) was added. The reaction mixture was deoxygenated using a vacuum pump and subsequently reacted under hydrogen atmosphere (using a hydrogen balloon).After 3 h, the reaction mixture was filtered through a diatomaceous earth pad and the diatomaceous earth pad was washed with methanol (100 mL). The combined filtrates were concentrated under reduced pressure to afford (2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)acetic acid (143 mg, 100% yield).
