Abstract Aqueous micellar systems proved to be an excellent reaction medium for the selective synthesis of bis-quaternary ammonium salts 5a-c from epichlorohydrin 2 and long- chain alkyldimethylamines 1a-c, in the presence of the corresponding amine chlorohydrates 3a-c as functional surfactants. Unlike alcohol or alcohol-water mixtures as reaction medium, mono-quaternary ammonium salts 4a-c were formed, if any, in very small amounts under ...