PURPOSE: To easily produce the titled compound useful as an intermediate for insecticide on an industrial scale, by converting a methyl ketone corresponding to the objective compound to carboxylic acid by haloform reaction, converting to an acid halide with a halogenation agent and catalytically reducing the halide.

CONSTITUTION: A compound of formula I (R is lower alkyl) is subjected to a haloform reaction to obtain a compound of formula II, which is made to react with a halogenation agent such as PX5, PX3, POX3, SOX2 (X is Cl or Br), COCl2, etc. The resultant compound of formula III is catalytically reduced optionally in the presence of a base such as Na2CO3, K2CO3, pyridine triethylamine, etc., to obtain the objective compound of formula IV useful as an intermediate for 1-(3-phenoxyphenyl)-4-(4-alkoxyphenyl)-4-methylpentane compound having high insecticidal and miticidal activities, excellent rapid and long-acting activity and extremely low toxicity to fish. The objective compound can be produced in high yield and selectivity from an easily producible raw material.