To provide a method for producing a 7-substituted indan-1-ol simply and in a high yield.

A 2-substituted phenol (the substituent group is a 1-4C alkyl group or the like) is sulfonylated, to give a 2-substituted sulfonate derivative, which is reacted with carbon monoxide in the presence of a metal catalyst, to give a 2-substituted benzoic acid. Further, the compound is reacted with N,O-dimethylhydroxyamine or its salt, to give a 2-substituted benzamide, which is reacted with a vinyl Grignard reagent, to give a 2-substituted phenyl vinyl ketone. Further the resultant compound is cyclized in the presence of an acid into a 7-substituted indan-1-one. Then, the 7-substituted indan-1-ol is reduced to give a 7-substituted indan-1-ol represented by the formula [VII] (wherein R is a 1-4C alkyl group or the like).