CMK-3 carbon replica was synthesized by carbonization of sucrose introduced to the pore system of a SBA-15 hard template followed by dissolving SiO2 with HF. The material with a stable hexagonal structure and an expanded surface area (S-BET = 1287 m(2)/g) was obtained. TG measurements showed that CMK-3 type mesoporous carbon started to be intensively oxidized by molecular O-2 above 723 K. This carbon sample was tested as a catalyst of dehydrogenation of propane to propene under oxidative (O-2:C-3 H-8 = 0.25. 0.50 and 1.00) and non-oxidative (O-2:C-3 H-8 = 0.00) conditions in the temperature range from 573 to 873 K. The propene yield increased with rise in the reaction temperature, however above 573 K the formation of side-products (C2H6, C2H4, CH4 and H-2) was observed. Moreover, coke was deposited on the catalyst surface. A decrease in the mass of a catalyst bed after the catalytic runs suggested the participation of oxygen in burning of deposited and bulk coke. The surface composition of a spent catalyst was investigated by XPS and TPD analysis. The changes in the concentration of oxygen functional groups, caused by the catalytic reaction, were observed regardless of a reaction temperature and feed composition. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.