The hydrolysis reaction of (±)-2-acetamido-3-hydroxy-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1-propanone[(±)-1], an intermediate of chloramphenicol, was studied and three different products were obtained respectively under different reaction conditions. The resolution of hydrolysis product (±)-2-amino-3-hydroxy- 1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1-propanone[(±)-3] was carried out. A process of crystallization-induced asymmetric transformation was observed and up to 76% of the optically pure enantiomer was obtained in the resolution of (±)-3.