An efficient scalable synthesis for dronedarone hydrochloride (2) via Friedel−Craft acylation of 2-(-2-butyl-1benzofuran-5-yl)-1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)dione ( 12) with 4-(3-chloropropoxy) benzoic acid (13) in good yield and high purity has been developed by using Eaton's reagent instead of hazardous and toxic metal halide catalyst like AlCl 3 or SnCl 4 .