A novel and facile method for selective reduction of 3-nitro-4-methoxy-acetylaniline (NMA) to 3-amino4-methoxy-acetylaniline (AMA) was suggested by using Cu degrees nanoparticle as the catalyst and NaBH4 as hydrogen source in water. The Cu degrees nanbparticles were synthesized by the wetness chemical reduction method. The particle sizes of Cu degrees nanoparticles significantly affected their catalytic activities in NMA reduction. When the Cu degrees nanoparticles with the average particle size of 5.9 nm synthesized in the presence of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide as the organic modifier were used as catalysts, the AMA selectivity reached 99.6% at the NMA conversion of 100% after reacting at 35 degrees C for 30 min. The Cu degrees nanoparticles had good recycling performance. A power-function type reaction kinetic model well fitted the experimental data, r = -dc(N)/dt = kC(N)(0.4)C(B)(1.1). The reaction activation energy was 93.1 kJ mol(-1). (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.