Silver nanoparticles were synthesized in green route with non-hazardous polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinylpyrrolidone as stabilizing as well as reducing agents and water as green solvent. This silver nanoparticle-embedded polymer composite film, Ag/PVA–PVP was characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy,SEM and TEM. The catalytic activity of this film was evaluated in reduction of p-nitrophenol, acylation of aniline and synthesis of a b-enaminone, 4-phenylamino-pent-3-en-one with appreciably good results. benaminonesynthesis reaction was chosen to study the effects of kinetic parameters such as reactant quantity, catalyst loading, solvents and temperatures. In a typical reaction, 89% conversion was achieved. A probable chemical reaction mechanism is suggested. Kinetic model fitting for the synthesis of b-enaminone reaction was done for the first time here. Heterogeneous kinetic model following Eley-Rideal pathway showed an excellent data fitting for the reaction. The rate law parameters were estimated.