To obtain a trifluoromethanesulfenanilide compound useful for producing an intermediate for a trifluoromethanesulfonilide compound which is an active ingredient of an excellent insecticide or acaricide.

This trifluoromethanesulfenanilide compound is represented by formula I(R1 is a halogen; R2 is an alkyl), e.g. 2-methoxycarbonyl-4-chloro- trifluoromethanesulfenanilide. The compound represented by formula I is obtained by reacting an aniline compound represented by formula II with trifluoromethanesulfenyl chloride in the presence of a base (e.g. pyridine) in an organic solvent (e.g. n-hexane) preferably at a temperature between -20°C and the boiling point of the solvent used in the reaction or 100°C. The compound represented by formula I is oxidized with a peroxide compound such as m- chloroperbenzoic acid or magnesium monoperoxyphthlate to afford a compound, represented by formula III and useful as an insecticide or an acaricide.