Chromia-pillared zirconium phosphate and zirconium phenylphosphonate were p
repared by an indirect intercalation method. The pillared materials have su
rface area in the range of 316-462 m(2)/g and narrow pore size distribution
s with greater than or equal to 70% mesoporosity. They are efficient cataly
sts for selective oxidation of aromatics, alkanes, cycloalkanes, cycloalken
es and alcohols using 30% H2O2 as the oxidant with catalytic activities muc
h higher than CrAPOs and CrMCM-41.