Abstract We have reported the reductive cleavage of azlactones1 and phenylhydrazones2 of carbonyl compounds in the presence of a suitable catalyst. In this paper a general method involving a one step synthesis of β-amino acid3, 4, in good yield, through catalytic reduction of oximes of α-β-unsaturated acid is reported. This method involves the reaction of α, β- unsaturated acid with hydroxylamine hydrochloride in the presence of sodium acetate. ...
