Environmentally benign nucleophilic substitution reaction of arylalkyl halides in water using CTAB as the inverse phase transfer catalyst

An environmentally benign, practically scalable and highly selective C-arylalkylation of active methylene compounds is developed using CTAB as the inverse phase transfer catalyst in water. The methodology developed is elaborated into the one-pot synthesis of quinoline derivatives and also applicable to the regioselective N-aralkyl of 2-pyridones.