PURPOSE: To obtain an acid amide useful as an anticonvulsant and a hypnotic in high yield without preparing by-products, by reacting an organic acid ester with ammonia or an amine in the presence of an alcoholate of an alkali metal.

CONSTITUTION: A bicyclo[2,2,1]heptene-5-carboxylic acid ester-2 shown by the formula (R is alkyl, aryl or aralkyl) is reacted with ammonia or a primary amine or secondary amine (e.g., methylamine, ethylamine, aniline, pyridine, etc.) in the presence of an alcoholate of an alkali metal (e.g., NaOCH3) at 10W150°C, preferably at 40W100°C, to give bicyclo[2,2,1]heptene-5-carboxylic acid amide-2. The amount of the alcoholate of an alkali metal used is preferably 5W20mol% based on the ester.