Gold on amine-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles: A novel and efficient catalyst for hydrogenation reactions

► A facile one-pot method was put forward to prepare amine-functionalized magnetite nanoparticles. ► The catalyst Fe3O4@PEI-Au is highly economical and easy-to-prepare. ► The catalyst showed high activity for reduction 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol at the presence of NaBH4. ► The catalyst was easily recovered from the reaction mixture with external magnetic field. ► The catalytic efficiency for reduction 4-nitrophenol remains unaltered even after 10 repeated cycles.