UraniumIV and uranyle salts, efficient and reusable catalysts for acylation of aromatic compounds

Abstract Uranium tetrachloride, uranyle chloride, fluoride and also nitrate or acetate are very efficient homogeneous catalysts for the Friedel–Crafts acylation of aromatic compounds. With uranyle salts, the reaction, carried under dry air, is highly specific and the mono- or bisacylation products are obtained in high yield. Uranyle catalyst can be quantitatively recovered and reused and the organic products are obtained free of uranium.