1. Reductive methanolysis of 2-methyl-4-benzylideneoxazol-5-one in the presence of S-αp-henylethylamine, comprising hydrogenation of the C=C double bond and fission of the oxazolone ring, proceeds without the formation of intermediate products in quantity. 2. Z- and E-methyl esters of benzoylaminocinnamic acids on hydrogenation in the presence of a chiral catalytic system based on PdCl2 and S-α-phenylethylamine give the methyl esters of S- and R-benzoylphenylalanine, respectively. 3. Hydrogenation of E- and Z-benzoylaminocinnamic acids gives S- and R-benzoylphenylalanine, respectively.