Process for the production of γ-ketosulfide compounds and γ-ketosulfide compounds obtained

To provide a novel process for producing a 2-aryl-3-hydroxy-4-substituted carbonyl thiophene compound or an intermediate thereof useful as an intermediate for production of medicines and agricultural chemicals. A 2-aryl acetate compound represented by the formula (1): wherein R 1 is an aryl group or the like, R 4 is a C 1-3 alkyl group or the like, and X is a leaving group, is reacted with a thioacetic acid compound to form a thioacetyl compound (3), the thioacetyl compound (3) is reacted with a vinyl ketone compound to form a ³-ketosulfide compound (5), which is cyclized under basic conditions to form a dihydrothiophene compound (6), and the dihydrothiophene compound (6) is oxidized by using an oxidizing agent to produce a 2-aryl-3-hydroxy-4-substituted carbonyl thiophene compound (7).