Aluminum dodecatungstophosphate (AlPW12O40) as a non-hygroscopic Lewis acid catalyst for the efficient Friedel–Crafts acylation of aromatic compounds under solvent-less conditions

Stable and non-hygroscopic aluminum dodecatungstophosphate (AlPW12O40), which is prepared easily from cheap and commercially available compounds was found to be an effective catalyst for Friedel–Crafts acylation reactions using carboxylic acids, acetic anhydride and benzoyl chloride in the absence of solvent under mild reaction conditions.