PURPOSE: To efficiently prepare fluorobenzene having antibacterial activity and useful as an intermediate for the preparation of a medicine based on a quinoline structure in a high yield by reacting a specified fluoronitrobenzene with a source of fluoride ions.

CONSTITUTION: The fluoronitrobenzene of the formula (where Hal is F, Cl or Br; Y is H or methyl; Z is H or (non)electrodonating group; and (n) is 1 or 2) such as 5-chloro-2-fluoronitrobenzene is reacted with a source of fluoride ions such as potassium fluoride or tetramethylammonium fluoride in an aprotic solvent such as sulfolane in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst such as tetramethylammonium chloride to obtain the objective difluorobenzene.