The first CuI-nanoparticle catalyzed inter and intramolecular N-arylation of amines using vitamin E analogues (TPGS) as amphipiles has been developed in water. Application of this transition metal–amphiphile C–N bond formation methodology is further extended for the synthesis of substituted indoles, bioactive natural product tryptanthrin and intermediates of pharmaceutical entities such as imatinib, nilotinib, selective D3 agonist/antagonist ligands, and oxacarbazepine.