To obtain an alicyclic tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride used as a source monomer of a polyimide having no absorption in the ultraviolet region, high light transmissivity, improved in processability and excellent in solubility in a solvent.

The alicyclic tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride 1,2- bis-(bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-spiro-3'-(tetrahydrofuran-2',5'-dione)-5-(6)-yloxy)ethane (BSE) is expressed by formula [1]. The method for producing BSE is to heat bicyclo[2.2.1]hepte-5-ene-2-spiro-3'-(tetrahydrofuran-2',5'-dione) (BHSF) expressed by formula [2] and a cyclic ether compound expressed by formula [3] or an ethylene glycol derivative expressed by formula [4] in the presence of a tungsten metal-containing hetero polyacid catalyst.