The high activity of a microspherical zeolite-containing aluminosilicate catalyst (TsSK) in the pyrolysis of n-heptane has been established. With the use of IR and ESR spectroscopy, thermally programmed desorption of ammonia and n-heptane and chromatographic analysis of desorption products, acid-basic and single-electron donor-acceptor centres of the surface of TsSK have been identified. Their role in catalytic pyrolysis is discussed. It is suggested that the pyrolysis of n-heptane on TsSK is catalysed by single-electron centres of the surface and proceeds by a heterogeneous-homogeneous radical chain mechanism.