Friedel-Crafts acylation

Friedel-Crafts acylation is a chemical reaction used to attach an acyl group (a specific carbon-based fragment) to an aromatic ring, like benzene. This process uses a catalyst, typically a metal chloride such as aluminum chloride, to facilitate the attachment. The result is a new molecule called a ketone, which can be used to produce pharmaceuticals, dyes, and plastics. Essentially, it's a way to selectively modify aromatic compounds to build more complex chemicals, by adding functional groups in a controlled manner.