With respect to the production of the compound of the formula (II), there is known only a process disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Laid-Open) No. 212335/1987. The document discloses a process for producing 3-chloro-4-hydroxyneophyl m-phenoxybenzyl ether [a compound of the formula (II) wherein X1 =Cl and X2 =H] by subjecting 4-ethoxy-3-chloroneophyl m-phenoxybenzyl ether to an ether cleavage reaction. It is specifically a process comprising subjecting 4-ethoxy-3-chloroneophyl m-phenoxybenzyl ether to ether cleavage in N,N'-dimethylimidazolidinone, using excessive potassium hydroxide as an ether cleavage agent. According to the document, 4-hydroxy-3-chloroneophyl m-phenoxybenzyl ether was obtained under the reaction conditions of 150° C. and 18 hours, but the yield was as low as about 50%.
