PRODUCTION OF ALPHA-AMINO ACID

PURPOSE:To advantageously obtain the subject compound useful as a food, feed, etc., intermediate, etc., for polymers without using a water-soluble acid, etc., and causing problems of post-treatment by bringing an alpha-aminonitrile as a raw material in the liquid phase into contact with water in the presence of zirconium oxide and hydrolyzing the aforementioned compound. CONSTITUTION:An alpha-aminonitrile expressed by the formula (R1 and R2 each are same or different H, lower alkyl, cyclohexyl or phenyl) as a raw material in the liquid phase is brought into contact with water in the presence of zirconium oxide and hydrolyzed to afford the objective compound. The reaction is carried out at about 50-220 deg.C, preferably 100-200 deg.C. The water is used in an equiv. amount or more, preferably about $10 times based on the raw material compound expressed by the formula. The zirconium oxide is used in a molar amount of about 0.01-5 times based on the raw material compound expressed by the formula. The aforementioned reaction is preferably carried out in the coexistence of a ketone used in a molar amount of about 0.1-10 times based on the raw material compound expressed by the formula. Acetone, etc., are used as the ketone.