Fig. 1
![Fig. 1](http://media.springernature.com/full/springer-static/image/art%3A10.1186%2Fs13104-019-4232-1/MediaObjects/13104_2019_4232_Fig1_HTML.png)
Pathway to γ-hydroxy-α-(aryl/alkylmethyl)carboxylates. a Structural motif of 4-hydroxy-2-(phenylmethyl)butanoic acid (1) (2-benzyl-4-hydroxybutanoic acid) in comparison to phenylalanine and 4-hydroxy-2-((N-methylpyrazol-4-yl)methyl)pentanoic acid (2) in comparison to histidine and lactic acid. b General synthetic pathway starting from α-angelica lactone or y-butyrolactone