Process for producing aromatic compounds

A process for producing an aromatic compound, comprising the step of:

• bringing an aromatic compound (B) into contact with molecular oxygen (C) in the presence of a catalyst (A) to thereby yield another aromatic compound (G) than the aromatic compound (B),
• the catalyst (A) comprising at least one of (A1) a heteropolyacid and/or a salt thereof, and (A2) a mixture of oxoacids and/or salts thereof containing, as a whole, one of P and Si and at least one selected from the group consisting of V, Mo, and W,
• the process further comprising at least one of the following steps (i), (ii), and (iii):
• (i) allowing the aromatic compound (B) to react with the molecular oxygen (C) further in the presence of a reducing agent (D) to thereby yield a corresponding aromatic hydroxy compound (G1);
• (ii) bringing the aromatic compound (B) into contact with the molecular oxygen (C) further in the presence of a palladium compound catalyst (E) to thereby yield a corresponding aromatic compound (G2) comprising plural moieties of the aromatic compound (B) directly combined with each other through a single bond;
• and
• (iii) allowing the aromatic compound (B) to react with an olefin or acetylene (F) and the molecular oxygen (C) further in the presence of a palladium compound catalyst (E) to thereby yield a corresponding aromatic compound (G3) having an alkenyl group or alkynyl group combined with its aromatic ring.