Production method of acrylic acid derivative

A method for producing an acrylic acid derivative represented by formula (1):

• wherein
• R1 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, an aryl group optionally having one or more substituents, or a halogen atom;
• R3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group, or an aryl group optionally having one or more substituents;
• and
• X represents a hydrogen atom, a fluoroalkyl group, an alkyl group, or a halogen atom,
• the method comprising
• step A of reacting a compound represented by formula (A1):
• X—CH2—CO—O—R3, wherein the symbols are as defined above, with an oxalic acid compound represented by formula (A2):
• (CO2R2)2, wherein R2, in each occurrence, is the same or different and represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or an aryl group, in the presence of a base to obtain a compound represented by formula (A3A):
• wherein
• R2 is as defined above;
• R3 is as defined above;
• X is as defined above;
• and
• M represents a hydrogen atom or a metal, or
• a compound represented by formula (A3B):
• wherein the symbols are as defined above, or
• a combination thereof, and
• step B of bringing the compound represented by formula (A3A), or the compound represented by formula (A3B), or a combination thereof into contact with a proton donor and an aldehyde compound to obtain a compound represented by formula (1),
• wherein the proton donor is water and the proton donor is used in an amount of 0.01 to 0.3 moles per mole of compound (A1).