The invention relates to a method for producing aniline, comprising the steps of: a) providing o-aminobenzoate, wherein said o-aminobenzoate comprises anthranilate anion and a suitable cation, b) converting said anthranilate anion to aniline by thermal decarboxylation in the presence or absence of a catalyst, c) extracting the aniline produced in step b) in an organic solvent at least once, and d) purifying the aniline produced in steps b) and c) by distillation, wherein said distillation produces aniline and a water phase.