A method and catalyst system for economically producing aromatic carbonates from aromatic hydroxy compounds. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of carbonylating aromatic hydroxy compounds by contacting at least one aromatic hydroxy compound with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst system that includes an effective amount of a Group VIII B metal source; an effective amount of a bromide composition; an effective amount of an activating organic solvent; an effective amount of a combination of inorganic co-catalysts comprising a lead source and a copper source; and an effective amount of a base.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09/677,487, filed Oct. 2, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,465,675 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
