Process suitable for industrial scale production of gabapentin

This invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of substantially pure, stable anhydrous gabapentin. Thus, cyclohexane 1,1-diacetic acid monoamide is first treated with NaOH/NaClO to form 3,3-pentamethylenebutyrolactam, which is treated with aqueous HCl solution under reflux to provide gabapentin HCl salt, which is then neutralized with NaOH followed by a dehydration step to provide substantially pure, storage-stable, pharmaceutical grade gabapentin.