Abstract: Ethyl arylpyruvates were obtained by hydrolyzing the corresponding ethyl α-formylamino-β-arylacrylates in 5% ethanol-hydrochloride aqueous solution, while arylpyruvic acids were obtained by further treating the ester with saturated sodium carbonate or 20% sodium hydroxide in good yield.

Key words: Arylpyruvic acid, Ethyl arylpyruvate, Ethyl α-formylamino-β-arylacrylate