In a cross coupling reaction, in a case where a halogen atom is selected as the leaving group of the raw material compound, a harmful halogen waste forms as a by-product after the reaction, and disposal of the waste liquid is complicated and environmental burden is high. In a carbon-hydrogen activation cross coupling reaction which requires no halogen atom as the leaving group, although no halogen waste forms as a by-product, the reaction substrate is considerably restricted, and the reaction remains a limited molecular construction method.A method for producing an aromatic compound, which comprises subjecting an aromatic nitro compound and a boronic acid compound to a cross coupling reaction in the presence of a metal catalyst.