The hydration of alkyne represents the most straightforward and simplest route toward the synthesis of ketone.Herein,Brφnsted acidic zeolites are explored as potential catalysts for the liquid-phase phenylacetylene hydration.The topology structure and Si/AI ratio are disclosed to be key factors controlling the catalytic activity of zeolites.Typically,H-MFI zeolite with a Si/AI molar ratio of 13 exhibits the highest catalytic activity,with turnover frequency of 6.0 h-1 at 363 K.Besides,H-MFI zeolite shows good catalytic stability and recyclability in the reaction of phenylacetylene hydration,and the substrate scope can be simply extended to other soluble aro-matic alkynes.The reaction mechanism of phenylacetylene hydra-tion is investigated by means of kinetic and spectroscopic analyses.The Markovnikov electrophilic addition of phenylacetylene by hy-drated protons is established as the rate-determining step,followed by deprotonation and enol isomerization to derive acetophenone product.