Reactions on a solid surface. A simple, economical and efficient Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction over zinc oxide (ZnO) as a new catalyst.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) brings about a rapid Friedel-Crafts acylation of a range of activated and unactivated aromatic compounds such as anisole and chlorobenzene with acid chlorides in solvent-free conditions at room temperature. The ZnO powder can be reused up to three times after simple washing with dichloromethane.