Method for producing sulfoxide derivative

A method for producing a sulfoxide derivative represented by general formula (1):

• (wherein,
• R1is a C1 to C10 alkyl group,
• a C3 to C6 cycloalkyl C1 to C6 alkyl group, wherein the said C3 to C6 cycloalkyl group moiety may be monosubstituted or polysubstituted by a halogen atom, a C1 to C4 alkyl group, a C1 to C4 alkoxy group or C1 to C4 haloalkyl group,
• a phenyl C1 to C6 alkyl group, wherein the said phenyl group moiety may be monosubstituted or polysubstituted by a halogen atom, a C1 to C4 alkyl group, a C1 to C4 alkoxy group, a C1 to C6 haloalkyl group, a cyano group or a nitro group,
• a C1 to C4 alkoxy C2 to C10 alkyl group,
• a C1 to C4 haloalkoxy C2 to C10 alkyl group,
• a C1 to C4 alkylthio C2 to C10 alkyl group,
• a C1 to C4 alkylsulfinyl C2 to C10 alkyl group,
• a C1 to C4 alkyl sulfonyl C2 to C10 alkyl group,
• a C1 to C4 haloalkylthio C2 to C10 alkyl group,
• a C1 to C4 haloalkylsulfinyl C2 to C10 alkyl group,
• a C1 to C4 haloalkylsulfonyl C2 to C10 alkyl group,
• a C1 to C6 haloalkyl group,
• a C3 to C6 cycloalkyl C1 to C6 haloalkyl group wherein the said C3 to C6 cycloalkyl group moiety may be monosubstituted or polysubstituted by a halogen atom, a C1 to C4 alkyl group, a C1 to C4 alkoxy group or a C1 to C6 haloalkyl group,
• a phenyl C1 to C6 haloalkyl group, wherein the said phenyl moiety may be monosubstituted or polysubstituted by a halogen atom, a C1 to C4 alkyl group, a C1 to C4 alkoxy group, a C1 to C4 haloalkyl group, a cyano group or a nitro group, or
• a C1 to C4 haloalkylthio C1 to C6 haloalkyl group;
• R2 and R3 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom or a C1 to C4 alkyl group), which comprises reacting a sulfide derivative represented by general formula (2):
• (wherein, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined above) with an oxidizing agent in the presence of both a catalyst which is a metal-ligand complex containing a metal compound and
• a ligand compound represented by general formula (3):
• which is selected from the group consisting of
• and
• a benzoic acid compound represented by general formula (4):
• (wherein,
• A1 is a C1 to C2 alkoxy group;
• A2 is a hydrogen atom;
• A3 is a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C2 alkoxy group;
• A4 is a hydrogen atom;
• A5 is a C1 to C2 alkoxy group;
• M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal atom or an alkaline earth metal atom;
• and
• n is 1 or 2).