Immobilized silver on surface-modified ZnO nanoparticles: As an efficient catalyst for synthesis of propargylamines in water

•Synthesis of Ag NPs immobilized on surface of ionic liquid modified ZnO nanoparticles.•High catalytic activity of ZnO-IL/Ag NPs in synthesis of propargylamines.•Reusability of ZnO-IL/Ag NPs without significant loss of its catalytic activity.

Silver nanoparticles were immobilized on ionic liquid modified zinc oxide nanoparticles leading to a ZnO-IL/Ag NPs catalyst, which exhibits high catalytic performance in the synthesis of propargylamines through one-pot three-component condensation reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes in water. The as-prepared catalyst was characterized by ICP-AES, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The catalyst was easily recycled and reused at least five times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.

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