The Kondakov–Darzens acylation reaction dates back over a century and provides a robust method for the preparation of enones.[1] It is distinguished from the more common Friedel– Crafts acylation by the substitution of arenes with olefinic nucleophiles.[2] The most commonly employed reagents for this transformation are superstoichiometric quantities of polyphosphoric acid or highly Lewis acidic metal salts such as ...