A nanoreactor (Ag/HMMS) composed of hollow magnetic mesoporous spheres (HMMS) and Ag nanoparticles was found to be an efficient catalyst for synthesis of beta-enamino ketones or esters from beta-dicarbonyl compound under mild reaction conditions. The novel catalyst could be easily recovered by an external magnet from the reaction mixture and recycled five times without any significant loss in activity. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.