PURPOSE: To obtain the titled substance useful as an intermediate of agricultural chemicals and pharmaceuticals, in high yield, under mild condition, irrespective of the kind of the substituent group of the ethylene compound used as a starting material, by using an ethylene compound and a nitro compound which is difficult to effect the proton exchange.

CONSTITUTION: The compound of formula III is produced by reacting the ethylene compound of formula I (R1 and R2 are H, halogen, lower alkyl or phenyl; R3 is acetyl, arylsulfonyl, nitro, cyano or lower alkoxycarbonyl; R4 is cyano or lower alkoxycarbonyl) with the nitro compound of formula II (R5 is H, alkyl or substituted alkyl; R6 is alkyl or substituted alkyl) in an organic solvent in the presence of an alkali at 0W50°C, preferably near room temperature. The organic solvent is e.g., acetonitrile, benzene, etc. The above reaction can be carried out in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst.