The present invention provides a process for producing an amino acid N-carboxyanhydride, which comprises reacting an amino acid or a derivative thereof with a compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 represent the same or different electron-withdrawing substituents and each independently are an optionally substituted acyl group, an optionally substituted alkyloxycarbonyl group, an optionally substituted perfluoroalkyl group, an optionally substituted perchloroalkyl group, a cyano group, a halogen atom, or a nitro group; and a and b are the same or different and each are an integer of 1-5.