PURPOSE: The reaction of a phenylacetonitrile derivative with a halogen compound is conducted in the presence of a specific compound to give readily high- purity titled compound used as a synthetic intermediate of drugs or dyes and a starting material of various chemicals in high yield.

CONSTITUTION: The reaction between a phenylacetonitrile derivative of formulaI(R is H, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl) and a halogen compound or R'X (R' is alkyl, alkenyl; X is halogen) is conducted in the presence of a compound of R1O(C2H4O)m(C3H6O)nR2(R1, R2 are H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl; m is 4 or larger integer; n is 0 or 1 larger integer) such as polyethylene glycol (PEG)-400- dimethyl ether in an alkali hydroxide aqueous solution at 30W100°C for 2W8hr to give the objective compound of formula II.