Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing an aromatic carbonate by reacting an aromatic hydroxy compound, carbon monoxide and oxygen using as a catalyst a specified catalyst system containing palladium and cerium compounds. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method of producing an aromatic carbonate by reacting an aromatic hydroxy compound, carbon monoxide and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst containing the following compounds:(A) at least one selected from palladium and palladium compounds;(B) at least one of trivalent or tetravalent cerium compounds;(C) at least one selected from quaternary ammonium salts and quaternary phosphonium salts;(D) at least one selected from quinones and reduction products thereof, i.e., aromatic diols; or(A) and (B) components of the above; and(E) at least one inorganic halide selected from alkali metal halides and alkali earth metal halides.

Abstract: An optically active compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents an alkyl group having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms or an alkoxy group having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms; A represents ##STR2## or ##STR3## wherein ring ##STR4## represents a nitrogen-containing hetero-aromatic ring; n and m each represents 0 or 1; R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms; and C* is an asymmetric carbon atom. The compound of formula (I) exhibits excellent physicochemical stability, a low temperature range for the chiral smectic C phase when used either alone or in combination with other compounds, and a rapid response.