New δ‐(polyfluoroalkyl)‐δ‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acids were synthesized from the corresponding starting 3‐(benzoylamino)‐6‐(polyfluoroalkyl)‐2H‐pyran‐2‐ones. The key step of the synthesis was the hydrogenation of the pyrone ring. Stereoselectivity and yields depended dramatically on the reaction conditions and the nature of the polyfluoroalkyl group. Various conditions were used for the preparation of both mixtures of diastereomers and pure diastereomers of the target amino acids. The obtained δ‐(polyfluoroalkyl)‐δ‐hydroxy‐α‐amino acids are of interest as analogues of 2‐amino‐5‐hydroxyvaleric acid and glutamic acid.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)