There is provided a process for the production of carbonyl compounds, characterized by reacting a diol represented by the formula (1); ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are the same or different, and independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted acyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxycarbonyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxycarbonyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted aralkyloxycarbonyl group, carboxyl group or a hydrogen atom, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 or R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are bonded together with the carbon atoms to which they are bonded to form a ring, provided that all of R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are not hydrogen atoms simultaneously; with bromine or an inorganic bromine compound in the presence of a trivalent bismuth compound and a base to form carbonyl compounds represented by the formula (2); ##STR00002## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.3 are as defined above; and the formula (3); ##STR00003## wherein R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are as defined above.