PURPOSE: To obtain the titled substance in high chemical and optical yield in a short step, by sulfonylating an optically active lactic acid in a solvent consisting of a benzene derivative used in the subsequent step and arylating the product with a Lewis acid.

CONSTITUTION: The titled substance is produced by (1) sulfonylating optically active lactic acid or lactic acid ester with sulfonyl chloride at -5W+25°C in a solvent consisting of a benzene derivative (e.g. benzene, xylene, etc.) which is to be used in the following arylation process, if necessary, in the presence of tertiary amine, (2) adding 0.2W2.4 equivalent of a Lewis acid (preferably AlCl3) to the reaction liquid and, (3) carrying out the arylation reaction at -5W+25°C for 1W48hr.

USE: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic.

EFFECT: The objective compound can be produced in remarkably shortened steps without necessitating the recovery of the reaction solvent in the sulfonylation step nor the production of the intermediate.