PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF A STARTING MATERIAL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PHENYLALANINE

摘要

A precursor of phenylalanine containing as a major component 5-benzylhydantoin is prepared by reacting, in an aqueous medium, a bisulfite addition salt of phenylacetaldehyde with cyanide and carbonate ions, each being in a molar ratio of equimol or more to said bisulfite addition salt and ammonium ion in a molar ratio of 2 or more to said carbonate ion. The thus prepared precursor of phenylalanine may be converted into phenylalanine by a hydrolysis under a basic or acidic condition.