PURPOSE: To obtain a highly pure azo compound of a phenol or a naphthol suitable as a dye or the like in good yields, by diazotizing a phenol or a naphthol having protected hydroxyl groups, introducing nucleophilic species into it and eliminating the protective groups therefrom.

CONSTITUTION: A compound of formula I (wherein R1 is a group which can be eliminated with an acid or an alkali, R2 is a group which can be introduced into a benzene ring as a substituent, n is 0W4, R2 groups may be the same or different from each other when n is more than 1 or R2 groups may combine to form a ring, and L is bonding group) is reacted with a diazotizing agent and a nucleophilic species r3 is introduced into the formed diazonium slat by a nucleophilic reaction. R1 is eliminated by hydrolysis to obtain a compound of formula II. Examples of the compound of formula II include those of formulas III, IV and V, and these compounds can be suitably used as colored photographic couplers or the like.