The use of catalytic amounts: 1 mol% or less of perfluoroalkyl lanthanide salts as homogeneous catalysts for Friedel-Crafts acylations in non-hazardous solvents is thereafter investigated. Lanthanide bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amides are better catalysts than the triflate analogues towards the acetylation of activated aromatic rings. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science BV All rights reserved.