Acetic Acid → Methyl 3,3-dicyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-3-methoxypropionate

10 g (34.9 mmol) of methyl-2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-3,3-diphenylpropionate were dissolved in 50 ml each of methanol and glacial acetic acid, 1 ml of RuO(OH)2 in dioxane was added, and hydrogenation was carried out with H2 in an autoclave at 100° C. under 100 bar for 30 h. The catalyst was filtered off, the mixture was concentrated, mixed with ether and washed with NaCl solution, and the organic phase was dried and concentrated. 10.1 g of methyl 3,3-dicyclohexyl-2-hydroxy-3-methoxypropionate were obtained as an oil.