A process for efficiently producing, through few steps either a xanthineoxidaseinhibitor, which is a therapeutic agent for hyperuricemia, or an intermediatetherefore. Theprocess is a novel coupling process which comprises subjecting a compoundrepresented byformula (1) to coupling reaction with a compound represented by formula (2) inthe presenceof a transition metal compound to thereby obtain a compound represented byformula (3).(see formula 1, 2 and 3)