The zeolite-promoted cyclization of arylvinylketones to indanones has been investigated, regarding zeolite nature and substitution pattern in the starting materials. 2-Substituted arylvinylketones reacted more readily in H-ZSM5, giving high yield (> 90%) of the corresponding indanones, while the 3-substituted are more efficiently converted to the corresponding indanones by H-USY. Rearranged product and solvent addition products were also isolated in a few cases, giving insight into cyclization mechanisms. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.