Vinyl isobutyl ether → Isobutyl (R)-(+)-2-(1-Isobutoxyethoxy)propionate

24.0 g of dehydrated isobutyl vinyl ether was dropwise added to a mixture of 32.7 g of isobutyl (R)-(+)-lactate and 0.3 g of phosphorus oxychloride which was being stirred at room temperature, so that the internal temperature of the reaction system could be kept at 40° C. or less. Then, the resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature overnight. After the reaction, thereto was added 200 ml of ethyl acetate, followed by washing with a saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, water and a saturated aqueous sodium chloride solution in this order. The washed material was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and then subjected to vacuum distillation to remove the solvent. The resulting concentrate was subjected to distillation to obtain 47.8 g (yield: 96.9%) of an oily title compound (diastereomixture).