To provide a more industrial method for producing a tetralin derivative represented by general formula (2) (wherein R1 is a carboxylic group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a carbamoyl group or amino group allowed to have a 1-5C lower alkyl substituent; R2 is a 1-20C alkyl group, a 1-20C alkoxy group, a 1-20C haloalkyl group, hydroxy group or a group represented by R1; and R1 and R2 may be combined into carboxylic anhydride or carboxylic imide when R1 is located at 1-position and also R2 is located at 8-position) than conventional ones.

This method for producing a tetralin derivative features reacting a naphthalene derivative represented by general formula (1) (wherein R1 and R2 have the same definition mentioned above) with hydrogen in a solvent in the presence of a palladium/silver catalyst.