Novel deacylation of alpha-bromo-beta-diketones using silica sulfuric acid (SSA) has been developed. Deacylation of 3-bromopentane-2,4-diones and 2-bromobutane-1,3-diones were carried out in the presence of SSA in dichloroethane under mild conditions to obtain the corresponding alpha-bromo ketones in good to excellent yields. SSA also promoted the Friedel Crafts type alkylation of benzene with 3-(sec-alkyl)-2,4-pentanediones to give the corresponding triarylmethanes in high yields in benzene.