PURPOSE: To obtain a cyclic carbonate useful as a chemical raw material, etc., under a mild reaction condition in a high yield by reacting a specific diol with a specified carbonate ester and subsequently distilling out the reaction product under heated and vacuum conditions.

CONSTITUTION: A diol of formula I [R is group of formula II (R1, R2 are H, 1-20C alkyl; n is 1-6)], such as ethylene glycol, is reacted with a carbonate of formula III (R3, R4 are methyl, ethyl, propyl, phenyl), such as dimethyl carbonate, in the presence of a basic catalyst such as lithium hydroxide in a high boiling point solvent having a boiling point of 150-450°C (preferably used in an amount of 10-80wt.% based on the whole weight of charged materials), and the obtained reaction mixture is heated and distilled under vacuum to obtain the objective cyclic carbonate of formula IV.