Dendritic macromolecules supported Ag nanoparticles as efficient catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Polymer supported Ag nanoparticles, generated in situ by silver nitrate (AgNO3) reduction under reaction conditions, catalyzed the hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol with high efficiency in water at room temperature in the presence of an excess amount of NaBH4. Amphiphilic linear-dendritic copolymers containing a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) core and poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) arms were able to load the Ag nanoparticles. The Ag nanoparticles with a diameter of 8-10 nm were found to show a comparable catalytic activity towards formation of the aromatic amine as single product with short reaction time. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.