A process suitable for safely mass-producing, through a short step, cyclic compounds useful in medicines, agricultural chemicals, foods, cosmetics, and chemical products or as intermediates therefor. The process, which is for producing a compound represented by the formula: ##STR1##

{wherein Z represents an electron-attracting group; W represents optionally substituted ethylene or optionally substituted vinylene; R³ represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group; and X represents a divalent group [provided that when W represents optionally substituted vinylene, then —X—CH₂-Z is not —X¹—X²—CH₂, -Z (wherein X¹ represents sulfur or optionally substituted nitrogen and X² represents optionally substituted ethylene)]} or a salt thereof, is characterized by subjecting a compound represented by the formula (II) or a salt thereof: ##STR2##

(wherein the symbols have the same meanings as the above) to a ring closure reaction in a solvent containing a carbonic diester.