Amongst the trans-4-mar literature there is a description of PPA synthesis using alanine and benzaldehyde, this was taken from a procedure which used n- methylalanine and benzaldehyde to produce ephedrine. I have been looking and only found 2- methyl alanine, i am assuming they are the same thing. Could someone confirm or deny this for me?

Nope.  2-methyl-alanine is NOT the same as N-methyl-alanine.