SnO2-SiO2 Mesoporous Composite: A Very Active Catalyst for Regioselective Synthesis of Aromatic Ketones with Unusual Catalytic Behavior

Aromatic ketones (R-Ar-CO-') have been prepared directly through C-C bond formation using aromatics, aryl, and alkyl acid halides in a Friedel-Crafts reaction over a reusable and catalytically active ordered SnO2-SiO2 three-dimensional mesoporous composite (PS-4) catalyst, which was found to be superior to modified zeolites, functionalized MCM-41, and supported heteropolyacid catalysts.