We report the first example of selective Pd-catalyzed mono-alpha-arylation of acetone employing aryl chlorides, bromides, iodides, and tosylates. The use of appropriately designed P,N-ligands proved to be the key to controlling the reactivity and selectivity. The reaction affords good yields with substrates containing a range of functional groups at modest Pd loadings using Cs2CO3 as the base and employing acetone as both a reagent and the solvent.