Methyl pyruvate is a pyruvic ester. Surface conditions during Pt/silica EUROPT-1 modified by cinchonidine catalyzed by enantioselective hydrogenation of methyl pyruvate to R-(+)-methyl lactate were investigated. Enantioselective hydrogenation of methyl pyruvate over finely dispersed polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized and the corresponding alumina-supported iridium clusters modified with cinchonidine was studied. The molecular orientation and conformation of methyl pyruvate on Ni(111) surface has been investigated in the temperature range 105-220K. Methyl pyruvate is reported to stimulate insulin secretion in vitro and in vivo.