400 were used as ptc catalysts however all of above described experiments carried out by the applicant gave low yields of n methylparoxetine and complex mixture of products including mostly cipma the present invention provides a process for producing n methylparoxetine and similar intermediates with reactions that result in a higher yield than that obtained in the prior art specifically the process of the present invention obtains a yield of about 86 which is much higher than the 25 yield of the prior art the present invention is directed to the use of sesamol tetrabutylammonium salt to increase the yield of n methylparoxetine obtained the salt may be prepared by dissolving sesamol and tetrabutylammonium hydroxide in an alcohol or a mixture of alcohols preferably the alcohol used is a mixture of isopropanol and methanol the solvents are then evaporated preferably under reduced pressure to obtain a residue the salt one skilled in the art may appreciate that instead of adding tetrabutylamonium hydroxide a salt of tetrabutylammonium such as the bromide salt may be added in conjunction with a base such as sodium hydroxide the salt is added to a mixture of cipma and a solvent such as acetonitrile toluene or isopropanol the reaction.