A method for producing a sulfonate ester compound, which comprising reacting: (a) a compound having a sulfo group (-SO 3 H), wherein the compound having a sulfo group is a compound represented by the general formula: R 4 -SO 2 -OH and (b) a compound represented by the general formula: R 5 -O-R 1 in the presence of an organic base which is capable of forming a salt with said sulfo group, wherein the organic base is a secondary amine, a tertiary amine or a quaternary ammonium salt, wherein R 4 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted hetero-atom-containing alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkenyl group, an optionally substituted alkynyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R 1 represents a sulfonyl group represented by the general formula: -SO 2 -R 2 wherein, R 2 represents a halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group; or an acyl group represented by the general formula: wherein, R 3 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group; and R 5 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted hetero-atom-containing alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkenyl group, an optionally substituted alkynyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group. (a) a compound having a sulfo group (-SO 3 H), wherein the compound having a sulfo group is a compound represented by the general formula: R 4 -SO 2 -OH and (b) a compound represented by the general formula: R 5 -O-R 1 in the presence of an organic base which is capable of forming a salt with said sulfo group, wherein the organic base is a secondary amine, a tertiary amine or a quaternary ammonium salt, wherein R 4 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted hetero-atom-containing alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkenyl group, an optionally substituted alkynyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R 1 represents a sulfonyl group represented by the general formula: -SO 2 -R 2 wherein, R 2 represents a halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group; or an acyl group represented by the general formula: wherein, R 3 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group; and R 5 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted hetero-atom-containing alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkenyl group, an optionally substituted alkynyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group. R 4 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted hetero-atom-containing alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkenyl group, an optionally substituted alkynyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R 1 represents a sulfonyl group represented by the general formula: -SO 2 -R 2 wherein, R 2 represents a halogen atom, a haloalkyl group, an alkoxy group, an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group; or an acyl group represented by the general formula: wherein, R 3 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group or an optionally substituted aryl group; and R 5 represents an optionally substituted alkyl group, an optionally substituted hetero-atom-containing alkyl group, an optionally substituted alkenyl group, an optionally substituted alkynyl group, an optionally substituted aryl group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group.