The invention discloses a titanocene complex with oxygen-containing carboxylic acid as well as a preparation method and an application of the titanocene complex. The structural formula of the complexis shown in the description. The titanocene complex is prepared from oxygen-containing carboxylic acid as a ligand, titanocene dichloride as Lewis acid and 5-sulfosalicylic acid as a transitional ligand. The complex is stable to air, the raw materials used in the synthesis method are low in cost and easy to obtain, synthesis steps are simple and easy, post-treatment of the product is simple, conditions are mild, and the yield of the target product is high. The complex is used for catalyzing reaction of 2-aminoacetophenone and aromatic aldehyde for synthesis of 2-aryl-2,3-dihydroquinolinone, and better yield is obtained.