"Greener" Friedel-Crafts acylations: a metal- and halogen-free methodology.

The utility of methanesulfonic anhydride for promoting the Friedel-Crafts acylation reaction of aryl and alkyl carboxylic acids is disclosed. This reagent allows the preparation of aryl ketones in good yield with minimal waste containing no metallic or halogenated components, clearly differentiating it from other available methodologies.