To provide a method of production for a heteroarylretinoic acid.

The heteroarylretinoic acid expressed by general formula (8) is obtained by reacting an unsaturated aldehyde derivative expressed by general formula (5) with a phosphonate compound expressed by general formula (6) in the presence of a base, producing a heteroarylretinoic acid ester expressed by general formula (7) and then carrying out hydrolysis of the ester. (In general formula (5), Ar is a (substituted) aromatic heterocyclic group and waved line is a double bond with steric configuration of E-type or Z-type or mixture of E/Z, in general formula (6), R is a 1-5C linear or branched alkyl group, R' is a 1-6C straight chain, branched or cyclic alkyl group, the wave line has the same meaning as above, in general formula (7), Ar, R' or the wave line has the same meaning as above, and in general formula (8), Ar or the wave line has the same meaning as above).