A carboxylic acid is produced by oxidative cleavage of a cycloalkane with oxygen and performs a reaction in the presence of a catalyst including an imide compound and a metallic compound, the imide compound having a cyclic imide skeleton represented by the following Formula (I): ##STR1##

wherein X is an oxygen atom or an —OR group, and wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl-protecting group, under conditions of a reaction temperature of 80 C. or higher and a concentration of the cycloalkane of 21% by weight or more.