In this report, we describe the parallel as well as conventional synthesis of 1, 2-diaryl-1- ethanones via environmentally benign acylation of arenes with in situ generated arylacetyl trifluoroacetates. A wide variety of arylacetic acids I participated in trifluoroacetic anhydride/phosphoric acid mediated C–C bond formation reaction when reacted with arenes of type II to give 1, 2-diaryl-1-ethanones III in good to excellent yield. Under the ...