The mixed oxides of CuO-CuCr2O4 (Cu-Cr-O) with different Cu/Cr mole ratios were examined for synthesis of 2,6-dimethylpyrazine (2,6-DMP) by the utilization of aqueous glycerol in conjunction with 1,2-propanediamine (1,2-PDA). Influence of acid-base (both Bronsted and Lewis) sites on the product distribution is rationalized by pyridine and formic acid adsorbed Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. Pyridine adsorbed DRIFT spectra demonstrated relatively higher number Lewis acid sites on the chromium rich (Cu1Cr3) Cu-Cr-O than on copper rich (Cu2Cr1) Cu-Cr-O. The formic acid adsorbed IR spectra demonstrated strong basic sites attributed to the vibrational bands at 1584 cm(-1) and 1677 cm(-1) due to dissociative adsorption of formate species on Cu2Cr1 surface. The structure activity relationship is established with Cu metal surface area and the acid-base strengths of the Cu-Cr-O catalysts in the dehydrocyclization of glycerol and 1,2-PDA. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.