Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared and tested for the activity in the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol showing to be exceptionally active. Further, using AgNPs we catalytically synthesized 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanol which is important drug intermediate for the widely used Ibuprofen. The rate constants were determined at temperatures 298 K, 303 K, 308 K, 313 K, 318 K, 232 K correspond to 0.29 min(-1), 0.37 min (-1), 0.40 min(-1), 0.43 min (-1), 0.50 min (-1), 0.68 min (-1,) respectively. The activation energy of AgNPs is 23.25 kJ/mol. The number of collisions of reactants in the term of frequency factor was found to be high 1.99 x 108 min (-1) and average heat of reaction is 26.1 kJ/mol. The recyclability study of AgNPs in the reduction of 1-(4-isobutylphenyl)ethanone (4-IBPEON) to 1-(4isobutylphenyl)ethanol (4-IBPE) in six consecutive reaction cycles found to be (0.91 g, 90%), (0.89 g, 88%), (0.87 g, 86%), (0.84 g, 83%), (0.84 g, 83%), (0.81 g, 80%), respectively. We promisingly minimize the waste generated in the synthesis of 4-IBPE by calculation E-factor and atom efficiency and was found to 0.57 and 81.56%, respectively. Reported experimental results were directly relevance to develop theoretical concepts.(c) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.