A successive-reaction nanoreactor made of active molecularly imprinted polymer containing Ag nanoparticles

A successive-reaction nanoreactor made of a unique molecularly imprinted polymer containing Ag nanoparticles is reported. This molecularly imprinted polymer was fabricated using two well-coupled templates, i.e., 4-nitrophenyl acetate and 4-nitrophenol. The catalytic hydrolysis of the former by this nanoreactor led to the formation of the latter, which was further reduced by the nanoreactor to 4-aminophenol. Unlike reported nanoreactors, which usually promote one single reaction, this novel nanoreactor can run cascade reactions. The proposed integration of active molecularly imprinted polymers with metal nanoparticles opens a new opportunity for creating functional catalysts for complicated chemical processes.