Michael-type Friedel-Crafts alkylation of N,N-dialkylanilines with nitroalkenes catalyzed by heteropolyphosphotungstic acid (HPW) is investigated in water. The reaction is simple, clean, and affords good to excellent yields of products using small quantity of catalyst. Also, theoretical study on the nature of reaction in water is reported. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.