The present invention relates to benzylphenol derivatives represented by the general formula: ##STR1##

• wherein R¹¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a protected hydroxy(lower alkyl) group; and R¹² represents a lower alkyl group, a lower alkoxy group, a lower alkylthio group, a protected hydroxy(lower alkyl) group, a protected hydroxy(lower alkoxy) group, a protected hydroxy(lower alkylthio) group, a lower alkoxy-substituted (lower alkyl) group, a lower alkoxy-substituted (lower alkoxy) group or a lower alkoxy-substituted (lower alkylthio) group; with the proviso that R¹² is not a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, a tert-butyl group or a methoxy group when R¹¹ is a hydrogen atom, or a salt thereof, which are used as intermediates for making glucopyranosyloxybenzylbenzene compounds having inhibitory activity in human SGLT2 and are useful in treating diseases associated with hyperglycemia, such as diabetes.