It is an object to provide a method for producing a 2-nitroimidazole derivative having an acyclic sugar chain in a side chain, which is suitable for production of a derivative having a radioisotope.A method for producing 1-(1-benzoyloxymethyl-2-hydroxyethyl)oxymethyl-2-nitroimidazole, characterized by reacting glycerin with a benzoylating agent to obtain 1-O-benzoylglycerin, reacting 1-O-benzoylglycerin with dimethoxymethane in the presence of a dehydrating agent to obtain 4-benzoyloxymethyl-1,3-dioxolane, and then reacting this product with 2-nitroimidazole or 2-nitro-1-trialkylsilylimidazole in the presence of a Lewis acid.