Highly Selective and Efficient Reduction of Nitroarenes by Imidazolium Salt Stabilized Copper Nanoparticles in Aqueous Medium

Imidazolium salt stabilized copper nanoparticles were developed and characterized using TEM, DLS and EDX studies. Copper nanoparticles were further utilized as heterogeneous catalyst for the highly selective and efficient reduction of nitroarenes ( 1a – 10a ) to the corresponding aromatic amines ( 1b – 10b ) in aqueous medium. Imidazolium salt stabilized copper nanoparticles are not only causing the stability of the copper nanoparticles but also greatly enhancing the reactivity and selectivity of reduction reaction in presence of several functional group (–OH, –CHO and –NH 2 ) in aqueous medium with higher yield. Graphical Abstract