PURPOSE: To obtain α-phenylethylamine, economically, in high yield and purity, by the catalytic reduction of acetophenone in the presence of hydrogen, ammonia, a solvent and hydrated alumina, using a hydrogenation catalyst.

CONSTITUTION: The objective compound can be produced by the catalytic reduction of acetophenone in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst (e.g. nickel, cobalt, palladium, etc.), hydrogen, ammonia, and a solvent (e.g. methanol, dioxane, etc.), and in the presence of a hydrated alumina [e.g. Al(OH)3, Al2O3.3H2O, etc.) at 50W150°C, preferably 70W130°C, under a hydrogen pressure of 2kg/cm2W 100kg/cm2. The amount of the hydrated alumina is preferably 1W10pts.wt. per 1pt.wt. of the catalytic metal, and that of the ammonia is 1W20mol per 1mol of acetophenone.