The reactivity of Lewis acidic ionic liquids for the acylation of acenaphthene to 3,6-dibenzoylacenaphthene was investigated. Ionic liquids of different alkyl chain length and metal chloride were synthesized and tested for the reaction to discuss the effects of Lewis acidity of the ionic liquid on the alkylation. Pure 3,6-dibenzoylacenaphthene was obtained and the structure of 3,6-dibenzoylacenaphthene was identified by GC/MS, FT-IR and H-1 NMR spectra. [Emim]C1/A1C1(3) ionic liquid was found to be the most active catalyst in the acylation. The yield of 3,6-dibenzoylacenaphthene was up to 89.6% and the selectivity towards 3,6-dibenzoylacenaphthene was up to 92.2%. The experiment shows that [Emim]Cl/AlCl3 can be used as both catalyst and solvent, it is reusable and environmentally friendly for the preparation of 3,6-dibenzoylacenaphthene.