TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The process (P1) further involves combining R-3-(carbamoyl methyl)-5-methyl hexanoic acid, (R)-(+)-phenyl ethyl amine salt an aqueous solvent and base to form a reaction mixture; separating (R)-(+)-phenyl ethyl amine from the reaction mixture prior to the Hofmann reaction; combining the reaction mixture with water immiscible solvent; and recrystallizing (S)-3-(amino methyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid from aqueous alcoholic solvent. The preparation (P2) of (S)-3-(amino methyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid involves creating a reaction mixture of R-3-(carbamoyl methyl)-5-methyl hexanoic acid, (R)-(+)-phenyl ethyl amine salt, an aqueous solvent comprising water and a water immiscible solvent selected from hydrocarbons, acetates and halogenated hydrocarbons, and a base; separating (R)-(+)-phenyl ethyl amine from the reaction mixture; and reacting the reaction mixture with a Hofmann reagent in a Hofmann reaction to form (S)-3-(amino methyl)-5-methylhexanoic acid. Preferred Components: The water immiscible solvent is selected from hydrocarbons, acetates and halogenated hydrocarbons. The solvent is a hydrocarbon solvent selected from hexane, heptane, cyclohexane, benzene, xylene, and toluene; acetate solvent selected from ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, and/or tertiary butyl acetate; halogenated hydrocarbon solvent comprises dichloromethane, and/or chloroform. The base is alkali metal hydroxide. The Hofmann reagent is generated in situ. The Hofmann reagent is an alkali metal hypobromite (preferably sodium hypobromite). The aqueous alcoholic solvent is selected from methanol, ethanol, isopropanol and tertiary butyl alcohol. The crystalline pregabalin having X-ray diffraction peaks as given specification. ACTIVITY - Anticonvulsant; Analgesic. No biological data is given.    MECHANISM OF ACTION - None given.    ADMINISTRATION - Dosage is 0.1 microgram to 2 g; or 10-600 mg/day. The mode of administration is oral.    EXAMPLE - A mixture of (R)-3-(carbamoyl methyl)-5-methyl hexanoic acid, (R)-(+)-phenyl ethylamine salt (30 g), water (100 ml) and sodium hydroxide (12.8 g) was stirred at 30 degrees C for 25 minutes. The reaction mixture was washed with toluene. To the aqueous layer, water (50 ml) and sodium hydroxide (19.2 g) were added and the reaction mixture was cooled to 0-5 degrees C. Bromine (18.7 g) was slowly added at 0-5 degrees C. The reaction mixture was heated to 85 degrees C and stirred for 60 minutes. The reaction mixture was cooled to 35-40 degrees C and aqueous hydrochloric acid (31.4 g) was added. The reaction mixture was heated to 90 degrees C and stirred for 3 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to 0-5 degrees C and stirred for 2 hours. The separated solid was filtered, washed with water and dried at 60 degrees C for 6 hours to afford (s)-(+)-3-aminomethyl-5-methyl hexanoic acid (15 g).