A convenient and useful protocol has been designed for the synthesis of N-aryl acetamides from the corresponding nitro compounds via a reductive N-acylation process using bi- functional, recyclable heterogeneous platinum nanoparticles supported on zirconia [Pt (0)/ZrO2] catalyst, employing molecular hydrogen as the environmentally benign reductant and the corresponding anhydrides as acylating agents. N-Boc protected amines were also ...