Process for preparing trans-4-aminomethyl-cyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid

A process for preparing trans-4-aminomethylcyclohexane-1-carboxylic acid which comprises simultaneously reducing and trans-isomerizing, for 0.5 to 20 hours, at a pressure of 20-200 Kg/cm.sup.2, at a temperature of 70.degree.-200.degree. C, in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst, 5-50% by weight of solvent of p-aminomethylbenzoic acid or a derivative thereof in an aqueous solution or an alkanol solution of a strong acid selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, formic acid, acetic acid and mixtures thereof as a solvent, said alkanol having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.