A new insoluble multi-site triphase catalyst viz., polymer-supported 1,3,4-tris(triethylammonium-methylene chloride)-2-methylbenzene (PSTTACMB) containing three active sites was synthesized by simplified procedure and its structure was characterized by FT-IR, solid C-13 NMR, TGA, [chloride ion] and SEM analyses. The catalytic efficiency of PSTTACMB was ascertained by comparing with insoluble single-site PTC viz., polymer-supported benzyltriethylammonium chloride (PSBTEAC) through determination of pseudo-first order rate constant for C-alkylation of dihydrocarvone with 1-bromobutane using 25% (w/w) NaOH at 60 degrees C under identical experimental conditions. Further, the dependency of rate of C-alkylation of dihydrocarvone on different kinetic variables was studied by varying the stirring speed, [substrate], [catalyst], [NaOH] and temperature. Based on the observed kinetic results and activation energy, a suitable mechanism was proposed. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.