The process for producing a (fluoroalkyl)benzene derivative according to
the present invention comprises a step of reducing the total content of
group 3 to group 12 transition metals in an alkylbenzene derivative to
500 ppm or less in terms of metal atoms; a step of halogenating the
branched alkyl group of the purified alkylbenzene derivative by a
photohalogenation to obtain a (haloalkyl)benzene derivative; and a step
of subjecting the (haloalkyl)benzene derivative to a halogen-fluorine
exchange using HF in an amount of 10 mol or higher per one mole of the
(haloalkyl)benzene derivative. The (fluoroalkyl)benzene derivative
produced by the process is reduced in the content of impurities such as
residual halogens and residual metals, and is useful as intermediates for
functional chemical products for use in applications such as medicines
and electronic materials.