The three-dimensional Zr-based metal-organic framework UiO-66-NH2 was functionalized with salicylaldehyde using a post-synthetic modification (PSM) strategy, and then three kinds of copper (II) salts were successfully immobilized onto the surface of the amino-functionalized Zr-MOF. The SEM and PXRD results showed that the morphology and structure of Zr-MOF were retained after multiple transformations. The obtained UiO-66-Sal-CuCl2 catalyst exhibited excellent activity for the selective aerobic oxidation of primary aromatic alcohols using molecular oxygen as the oxygen source. Furthermore, the UiO-66-Sal-CuCl2 catalyst showed a good cycle performance. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.