To obtain a cyanobenzoate compound useful as a raw material for medicines, and so on in a high yield and in a high purity by a profitable method comprising oxidizing an aminomethylbenzoate compound.

This method for producing a cyano benzoate compound, such as a compound of formula II (CN, COOR and X are each a substituent on the benzene ring; CN is placed at the m- or p-position of COOR), comprises oxidizing an aminomethylbenzoate compound, such as a compound of formula I [CH2NH2, COOR and X are each a substituent on the benzene ring; CH2NH2 is placed at the m- or p-position of COOR; R is a 1 to 8C alkyl; X is chlorine or fluorine; (n) is 0 or 1 to 4], if necessary, with an oxidizing agent. The oxidizing agent is preferably a transition metal compound such as a ruthenium compound, a palladium compound, a copper compound, a cobalt compound or a nickel compound.