Reaction in the solid state between isophthalic acid and DL-alpha-alanine was attempted by heating the reactants directly in a DSC and TG apparatus. By reacting equivalent amounts of starting materials, the results that isophthalic acid interacts with DL-alpha-alanine in a 2:1 molar ratio mixture, yielding an immino derivative which, during formation, melts and evaporates. The DSC, TG, IR and NMR data confirm the proposed mechanism.