A process for making an amino acid by the steps of: (a) contacting a compound of formula I ##STR00001## with a hydroformylation catalyst and synthesis gas to produce a mixture of aldehyde compounds comprising the formulas IIa, IIb and IIc; ##STR00002## (b) reacting the mixture of aldehyde compounds from step (a) to produce a mixture of derivative compounds; (c) contacting the mixture of derivative compounds from step (b) with an enantioselective hydrolase enzyme in the presence of water to produce an L-amino acid having the formula IV; ##STR00003## (d) isolating the amino acid having the formula IV in substantially pure form, wherein in formulas I, IIa, IIb, IIc, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc and IV, R is H, alkyl or aryl and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different alkyl groups and wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may be fused.