A process for producing aromatic compounds comprises the step of carrying out a reaction between an aromatic carboxylic acid and a polyfluorobenzonitrile, thus forming an aromatic nitrile and a polyfluorobenzene. This process can produce the aromatic compounds with few problems in respect to workers' safety and at a low cost when compared with conventional processes, and can convert the starting materials for the reaction into useful substances in almost no vain, and therefore involves little waste.