PRODUCTION OF ALPHA-AMINO ACID

PURPOSE:To advantageously obtain the subject compound useful as a food, feed, medicine and intermediate for polymers without using a water-soluble acid or alkali by bringing an alpha-amino acid amide as a raw material in the liquid phase into contact with water in the presence of a specific metal oxide and hydrolyzing the aforementioned compound. CONSTITUTION:An alpha-amino acid amide (e.g. aminoacetamide) expressed by the formula (R1 and R2 are H, lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl or substituted phenyl) in the liquid phase is brought into contact with water in the presence of at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of zirconium oxide, titanium oxide and niobium oxide and hydrolyzed to afford the objective compound. The reaction is preferably carried out at a temperature within the range of 100-200 deg.C. The equiv. amount of the water is preferably about >=10 times based on the compound expressed by the formula. The metal oxide is used in a molar amount within the range of about 0.01-5 times based on the compound expressed by the formula.