3-Phenyllactic acid can be used as a reactant to prepare:
- O-Acetyl-3-phenyllactic acid by reacting with acetic anhydride in the presence of pyridine.
- Ethyl 2-oxo-1-(phenylmethyl)-2-[(phenylmethyl)amino]ethyl carbonate by one pot reaction with 2-ethoxy-1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) and aniline.
- Phenylmethyl-1,3-dioxolane-2,4-dione by condensation reaction with trichloromethyl chloroformate (diphosgene) in the presence of activated charcoal.