Polyelectrolyte encapsulated gold nanoparticles as efficient active catalyst for reduction of nitro compounds by kinetic method

This paper is focused on the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using highly branched polyethylenimine (PEI) and acylated polyethylenimine (PEI-C12) as reducing as well as stabilizing agent and their role as catalysts. The AuNPs are characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, AFM, UV–vis and FT-IR techniques. The AuNPs, in a PEI polyelectrolyte matrix, is found to be a stable and active catalyst for the selective reduction of nitro compounds using NaBH4 under mild reaction conditions. This catalytic system is stable for several months without any obvious colloidal aggregation.

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► We have developed an environmentally benign AuNPs for the reduction of nitro group to corresponding amines.
► The advantages of this catalytic system give high product yields, short reaction time as well as improved catalytic activity.
► A new application of AuNPs in organic synthesis has been found to transformation under “green” conditions.
► Polyelectrolyte capped AuNPs is effective and stable catalytic system.
► It is a simple, convenient and novel method for the reduction of aromatic nitro groups.