Abstract: The present invention provides a safer and more efficient process for producing [2-(arylsulfonyl)ethenyl]benzene derivatives of the formula (3): wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same or different and each independently represent a hydrogen, fluorine, or chlorine atom, a lower alkyl group, or the like, and two adjacent R3 and R4 may bond each other at their terminals to form a ring, which the process is characterized in that a 2-(arylsulfonyl)ethanol of formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are as defined above, and an acid anhydride are reacted in the presence of a base, and the reaction liquid obtained is supplied to a reaction with an aromatic halide of formula (2): wherein X represents a chlorine, bromine, or iodine atom, and R3 and R4 are the same as defined above, in the presence of a palladium catalyst and a base.