Acylation of aromatic compounds using moisture insensitive InCl3 impregnated mesoporous Si-MCM-41 catalyst

Acylation of aromatic compounds (benzene, toluene, p-xylene, mesitylene, anisole, naphthalene, methylnaphthalene and methoxynaphthalene) by an acyl chloride (benzoyl chloride, phenylacetyl chloride, propionyl chloride or butyryl chloride) in high yield, in a short reaction period (3 h), even in the presence of moisture in the aromatic substrate or solvent (dichloroethane), can be accomplished at low temperature (80±1°C) using an InCl3 impregnated Si-MCM-41 catalyst in low catalyst concentration.