phenylation reactions of α-acylnitromethanes catalyzed by trifluoromethanesulfonic acid have been studied. α-Aroylnitromethanes afforded benzil monooximes in good yield. In the case of aliphatic α-acylnitromethane, a similar phenylation reaction proceeded, but the yield of the phenylated 1,2-dione monooxime was low. These phenylation reactions represent examples of the generation of carbocation electrophiles