Acetylation of an aromatic compounds such as veratrole (1,2-dimethoxybenzene), anisole, thioanisole, isobutyl benzene and 2-methoxynaphthalene with acetic anhydride has been investigated over a nano-sized 12-tungstophosphoric acid (TPA)/22.4 wt.%ZrO2/SBA- 15 catalysts in the liquid phase conditions. Catalysts with different (%) TPA and zirconia loadings calcined at different temperatures were prepared by wet-impregnation and characterized by XRD, N-2 adsorption-desorption, FT-Rarnan, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The acidic behavior of the catalyst was studied by TPD of ammonia and FT-IR pyridine adsorption. Among the catalysts, 15 wt.%TPA/22.4 wt.%ZrO2/SBA- 15 calcined at 1123 K had the highest acidity and was the most active catalyst in veratrole acetylation with acetic anhydride. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.