N-Phenylglycine is an organic compound with the formula C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>5</sub>NHCH<sub>2</sub>CO<sub>2</sub>H. This white solid achieved fame as the industrial precursor to indigo dye. It is a non-proteinogenic alpha amino acid related to sarcosine, but with an N-phenyl group in place of N-methyl.
It is prepared by the Strecker reaction involving the reaction of formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, and aniline. The resulting amino nitrile is hydrolyzed to give the carboxylic acid.