A method for the selective methylation of the hydroxy group at the 6-position of erythromycin A derivatives which comprises reacting a compound represented by the formula R-X (wherein R is a 2-alkenyl group, a benzyl group or a substituted benzyl group, and X is a halogen atom), reacting the resulting quaternary salt compound with a methylating agent, and then eliminating R groups of the resulting compound to give 6-O-methylerythromycin A 9-oxime, is disclosed.