Quinolines have been obtained through the indirect Friendländer annulation starting from 2-aminobenzyl alcohol or derivatives from it and ketones catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbene, and the synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines through a one-pot, two-step tandem reaction starting from readily available ketones and alcohols via alpha-alkylation and indirect Friedländer annulation under air also has been presented.