To produce the subject compound in high yield by reducing an alkylbenzyloxynitro-substituted oxybenzene compound.
A 5-alkyl-1-benzyloxy-2-nitro-4-substituted oxybenzene compound represented by formula I [R1 is a (substituted) alkyl; R2 is a (substituted) alkyl, a (substituted) aryl or a (substituted) heterocyclic ring; HX is a protonic acid; m is 0 or 1] (e.g. a compound represented by formula II) is reduced at 10-130°C reactional temperature for 5 min to 10 h reactional time preferably by using Pd-C or Raney nickel catalyst to thereby produce a compound represented by formula III, e.g. a compound represented by formula IV. The compound represented by formula III is an important intermediate for a coloring matter donative compound and a phenol type cyan coupler used for a color diffusion- transfer method of a silver halide photosensitive material.
ASANUMA NAOKI
YAMAKAWA KAZUYOSHI
SATO TADAHISA
