A method for producing a compound represented by general formula, the method comprising sequential steps including preparing a solution of at least one compound represented by general formula in the general formula, R 1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkenyloxy group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, a represents 0, 1, or 2, b represents 0, 1, or 2, and satisfy 0 ≤ a + b ≤ 3, A 1, A 2, A 3, and A 4 each independently represent a group selected from the group consisting of (a) a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group (in this group, a single -CH 2 - or two or more -CH 2 - that are not next to each other may be replaced by -O- or -S-), (b) a 1,4-phenylene group (in this group, a single -CH= or two or more -CH= that are not next to each other may be replaced by a nitrogen atom), and (c) a 1,4-bicyclo(2.2.2)octylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or a chroman-2,6-diyl group; hydrogen atoms in the group (a), (b), or (c) may be each replaced by a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, or a chlorine atom; in a case where a represents 2 and a plurality of A 1 are present, these plurality of A 1 may be the same or different; in a case where b represents 2 and a plurality of A 4 are present, these plurality of A 4 may be the same or different, Z 1 and Z 2 each independently represent a single bond, -CH 2 CH 2 -, -CH=CH-, -C=C-, -CH 2 O-, -OCH 2 -, -CF 2 O-, -OCF 2 -, -COO-, or -OCO-; in a case where a represents 2 and a plurality of Z 1 are present, these plurality of Z 1 may be the same or different; in a case where b represents 2 and a plurality of Z 2 are present, these plurality of Z 2 may be the same or different, and X 1 represents a fluoromethoxy group, a difluoromethoxy group, a trifluoromethoxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkenyloxy group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; bringing the solution into contact with a purifying agent or not bringing the solution into contact with a purifying agent; subsequently performing crystallization from an obtained solution for crystallization to precipitate a crystal; collecting the crystal by filtration; and drying the crystal, wherein steps from initiation of the crystallization step to end of the drying step are performed in an atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of 3% by volume or less. (a) a trans-1,4-cyclohexylene group (in this group, a single -CH 2 - or two or more -CH 2 - that are not next to each other may be replaced by -O- or -S-), (b) a 1,4-phenylene group (in this group, a single -CH= or two or more -CH= that are not next to each other may be replaced by a nitrogen atom), and (c) a 1,4-bicyclo(2.2.2)octylene group, a naphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a decahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2,6-diyl group, or a chroman-2,6-diyl group; hydrogen atoms in the group (a), (b), or (c) may be each replaced by a fluorine atom, a trifluoromethyl group, a trifluoromethoxy group, or a chlorine atom; in a case where a represents 2 and a plurality of A 1 are present, these plurality of A 1 may be the same or different; in a case where b represents 2 and a plurality of A 4 are present, these plurality of A 4 may be the same or different, Z 1 and Z 2 each independently represent a single bond, -CH 2 CH 2 -, -CH=CH-, -C=C-, -CH 2 O-, -OCH 2 -, -CF 2 O-, -OCF 2 -, -COO-, or -OCO-; in a case where a represents 2 and a plurality of Z 1 are present, these plurality of Z 1 may be the same or different; in a case where b represents 2 and a plurality of Z 2 are present, these plurality of Z 2 may be the same or different, and X 1 represents a fluoromethoxy group, a difluoromethoxy group, a trifluoromethoxy group, a fluorine atom, a chlorine atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or an alkenyloxy group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; bringing the solution into contact with a purifying agent or not bringing the solution into contact with a purifying agent; subsequently performing crystallization from an obtained solution for crystallization to precipitate a crystal; collecting the crystal by filtration; and drying the crystal, wherein steps from initiation of the crystallization step to end of the drying step are performed in an atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of 3% by volume or less.