A method for selectively brominating hydroxyaromatic compounds is disclosed. Hydroxyaromatic compounds are contacted with oxygen and a bromine source, in an acidic medium, in the presence of a catalyst selected from the group of compounds and mixtures of compounds of Group IV-VIII transition metals of the Periodic Table of Elements. The selectivity of mono-brominated products produced, predominantly in the para-position, from the method using transition metal compounds as catalysts is significantly higher than that of known methods using other catalysts. Thus, there is a significant reduction in the production of undesirable dibrominated and more highly brominated by-products.