METHOD FOR PRODUCING DIARYLCARBONATES USING CATALYSTS CONTAINING A PLATINUM GROUP METAL PRODUCED IN

Described is a process for preparing an aromatic carbonate, e.g., diphenyhl carbonate, in which an aromatic hydroxy compound, e.g., phenol, is reacted with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the resence of a supported catalst prepared by a sol-gel process, a quatermary ammonium or phosphonium salt and a base. The sol-gel supported catlyst comprises : (i) a first metal oxide selected from the group consisting of silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, zirconium oxide and mixtures thereof; (ii) a second metal oxide selected from the group consisting of oxides of the elements of groups 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, the iron group (atomic numbers 26 to 28), the rare-earth metals (atomic numbers 58 to 71) and mixtures thereof; and (iii) a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum metals, compounds of platinum metals (atomic numbers 44 to 46 and 77 and 78) and mixtures thereof. The sol-gel supported catlyst is aged, dried and optionally annealed prior to use in the process of the present invention.