Ammonolysis of d,l-phenylglycine methyl ester catalysed by Novozym 435 at 40 o C in tert-butyl alcohol gave d-phenylglycine amide in 78% ee at 46% conversion, corresponding to an enantiomeric ratio (E) of 16. Lowering the temperature improved the enantioselectivity (E=52 at -20 o C). Combination of ammonolysis with pyridoxal-catalysed in situ racemisation of the unconverted ester (dynamic kinetic resolution), at -20 o C, gave d-phenylglycine amide with 88% ee at 85% conversion. The amide racemised much slower than the ester at this low temperature.