This paper reports on the synthesis of graphene oxide supported Au nanoparticles and their application as a separable catalyst for ligand-free Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions in water and reduction of nitro compounds. The catalyst was characterized using powder XRD, BET, FT-IR, Raman, SEM and EDS. This method has the advantages of high yields, simple methodology, and elimination of ligand, organic solvent and homogeneous catalysts and easy work up. Interestingly, the novel catalyst could be recovered in a facile manner from the reaction mixture and recycled several times without any significant loss of catalytic activity.