In the present paper the heterogeneous catalytic preparation of alpha-amino acids by hydrogenation of the dehydroamino acids catalyzed by palladium is described. Enantiomeric excess of up to 26% was achieved when the hydrogenation was carried out in ethanol at 0.5 MPa, 298 K with substrate concentration kept at 80 mmol L-1, 50 mol% cinchonidine as modified and triethylamine as additive.