Silver nanoparticles were immobilized on ionic liquid modified zinc oxide nanoparticles leading to a ZnO-IL/Ag NPs catalyst, which exhibits high catalytic performance in the synthesis of propargylamines through one-pot three-component condensation reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes in water. The as-prepared catalyst was characterized by ICP-AES, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The catalyst was easily recycled and reused at least five times without significant loss of its catalytic activity. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.