Catalytic Friedel–Crafts acylation: magnetic nanopowder CuFe2O4 as an efficient and magnetically separable catalyst

Catalytic regioselective Friedel–Crafts acylation of an array of anisoles/arenes with various acid chlorides using 5–20 mol % of magnetic nanopowder CuFe2O4 is reported. Unlike the conventional Friedel–Crafts reactions, which are catalyzed by moisture sensitive homogeneous catalysts/promoters, the nanopowder CuFe2O4 catalyst is moisture insensitive and the product/ketone-catalyst isolation is easily achieved using the magnetic properties of CuFe2O4.