Ethyl 3-phenylprop-2-enoate → Ethyl 3-phenylpropionate

A 500 mL 3-necked round bottom flask was added a solution of ethyl cinnamate (10 g, 56.75 mmol) in methanol (200 mL). To the mixture was added Pd/C (2 g) followed by addition of hydrogen gas. The resulting solution was allowed to react, with stirring, overnight while the temperature was maintained at 35° C. in a bath of oil. A filtration was performed. The filtrate was concentrated by evaporation under vacuum using a rotary evaporator. This resulted in 10 g (99%) of ethyl 3-phenylpropanoate as a colorless oil.