PURPOSE: To obtain the titled compound useful as an intermediate for compounds having high herbicidal efficacy in high purity and yield by easy operation, by reacting an easily available 3-amino-4-fluoro-(6-halogeno)phenol with a halogen compound as raw materials.

CONSTITUTION: A 3-amino-4-fluoro-(6-halogeno)phenol of formula I (X is H or halogen) which is a well-known compound, e.g. 2-fluoro-5-hydroxyaniline, is reacted with a halogen compound of the formula R-Y (R is lower alkyl; Y is halogen), e.g. isopropyl bromide, preferably in a solvent, dehydrohalogenating agent, e.g. NaOH, and a phase transfer catalyst, e.g. triethylbenzylammonium chloride, at room temperature W150°C for 1W2hr to give the aimed compound.

USE: An intermediate for N-phenyltetrahydrophthalimide derivatives of formula III(X' is Y) exhibiting the herbicidal efficacy and substituted phenylhydrantoin derivatives of formula IV, etc.