An efficient procedure for the preparation of 5-dialkylaminomethylhydantoins 3, which are easily obtained from cyclization of the corresponding urea derivatives 2 starting with beta-aminoalanines 1, is described. Methylenehydantoin and the corresponding 2-thio analogue (4a, 4b) were obtained from hydantoins 3a and 3b, respectively. Some new chemical properties of these hydantoin derivatives are reported.