Abstract: The invention is a method for efficiently producing an aromatic compound by an intramolecular cyclization reaction, the aromatic compound having a ring structure that includes a nitrogen atom or oxygen atom. An aromatic compound composed of tert-butyl-2-(3-oxo-3-phenylpropyl)phenyl carbamate or another aniline derivative or the like, or an aromatic compound composed of 3-(1-hydroxynaphthalene-2-yl)propionic acid or another naphthol derivative or the like is made to react in a system to which an oxidizing agent and a quaternary ammonium salt represented by general formula (1) are fed. In the formula, X is an iodine atom; and R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently a C1-30 hydrocarbon group in which some hydrogen atoms are optionally substituted with halogen atoms, or R1 and R2 may be combine to form a divalent organic group bonded to a nitrogen atom, and R3 and R4 may combine to form a divalent organic group bonded to a nitrogen atom.

Abstract: The invention is a method for efficiently producing an aromatic compound by an intramolecular cyclization reaction, the aromatic compound having a ring structure that includes a nitrogen atom or oxygen atom. An aromatic compound composed of tert-butyl-2-(3-oxo-3-phenylpropyl)phenyl carbamate or another aniline derivative or the like, or an aromatic compound composed of 3-(1-hydroxynaphthalene-2-yl)propionic acid or another naphthol derivative or the like is made to react in a system to which an oxidizing agent and a quaternary ammonium salt represented by general formula (1) are fed. In the formula, X is an iodine atom; and R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently a C1-30 hydrocarbon group in which some hydrogen atoms are optionally substituted with halogen atoms, or R1 and R2 may be combine to form a divalent organic group bonded to a nitrogen atom, and R3 and R4 may combine to form a divalent organic group bonded to a nitrogen atom.