PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ALKALI SALTS OF PHENYL GLYCINE

1. A process for the preparation of alkali metal salts of phenylglycine by reacting aniline with formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide in the presence of water for from 0.1 to 4 hours at from 0 to 80 degrees C, the concentration of hydrogen cyanide in the reaction mixture during the reaction being not more than 0.9 per cent by weight, and hydrolyzing the phenylglycinonitrile formed, wherein the hydrolysis is carried out in the abscenc of aniline or in the presence of from 0 to 0.2 mole of aniline per mole of phenylglycinonitrile, withan alkali metal hydroxide solution, using from 1 to 1.05 moles of alkali metal hydroxide per mole of phenylglycinonitrile, in the presence of from 5 to 200 per cent by weight, based on starting aniline, of an alcohol, aromatic hydrocarbon and/or aliphatic hydrocarbon as the organic solvent and in the presence of from 50 to 500 per cent by weight, based on starting aniline, of water.