PURPOSE: To safely obtain a vinyl sulfide compound through reaction in one stage by reacting a mercaptan compound with a vinyl halide in the presence of a base.

CONSTITUTION: A mercaptan compound having one or more mercapto groups in the molecule is reacted with a vinyl halide in the presence of a base (e.g. an alkali hydroxide) in a solvent such as DMF at -20 to +150°C for 5min to 24hr to afford the objective substance. The vinyl halide is used in an amount of 0.5-50mol based on 1mol mercapto groups of the mercaptan compound and the base is used in an amount of 0.5-10mol based on 1mol mercapto groups of the mercaptan compound. Methyl mercaptan, etc., are exemplified as the mercaptan compound and vinyl chloride, etc., are exemplified as the vinyl halide.