Nano-fibrous zirconium-doped manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves (denoted as Zr-OMS-2) were prepared and characterized by XRD, SEM, EDXS, FTIR, NH3-TPD, and N-2 adsorption-desorption techniques. The materials were used as catalysts for liquid-phase aerobic oxidation of p-chlorotoluene to p-chlorobenzaldehyde. The Zr-OMS-2 catalysts show much higher catalytic activities than OMS-2, and the Zr-OMS-2 with 6 wt% Zr content shows the highest activity, giving approximately 93% p-chlorotoluene conversion and 86% p-chlorobenzaldehyde selectivity in 10 h at 100 degrees C. The promotion effect of Zr is deduced to be related with the suitable acidity and the enhancement of specific surface area. In addition, effects of reaction parameters such as catalyst amount, oxygen flow, temperature and time were studied. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.