A carbon nanocage material (CKT) was first successfully sulfonated by introducing sulfophenyl groups on the surface of pore channels through benzenesulfonic acid-containing aryl radical in situ generated from the reaction of 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid and isoamyl nitrite in water. The sulfonated carbon nanocage material (S-CKT) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, powder small-angle X-ray diffraction and nitrogen sorption measurements. The results showed that the S-CKT still possess the high specific surface area (787 m(2)/g) and uniform mesoporous (pore diameter 4.7 nm) structures, although the structure of S-CKT is slightly disorder, compared with its unsulfonated precursor. S-CKT, as a carbon-based solid acid catalyst, showed good catalytic performance and reusability in the cross-Aldol condensation of ketones with aromatic aldehydes under solvent-free condition.