The gas-phase oxidative dehydrogenation of propane by molecular chlorine was studied in a flow reactor with a fixed catalyst bed using a series of ruthenium-titania catalysts at temperatures between 150 and 450 degrees C. It was found that Ru/TiO2 catalyst prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation of titania with an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution of K-4[Ru2OCl10] revealed the highest catalytic activity. The selectivity toward propylene reached 95% at the propane conversion of 50% and the complete conversion of chlorine at 400 degrees C. Propane consumption turnover frequency was 45 10(-3) s(-1) which is comparable with the highest known values obtained at the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. Diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study showed that ruthenium oxychloride was the active component of the catalyst. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.