Catalytic performance of BiOCl catalyst has been investigated for the oxidative cracking of n-butane to lower alkenes. Results are compared with those of isostructural LaOCl and SmOCl catalysts. On the BiOCl catalyst, oxidative dehydrogenation and combustion were major reactions at similar to 500 degreesC; above similar to 600 degreesC oxidative cracking reaction to produce ethylene and propylene began to be significant. At the temperature as low as 625 degreesC, 52% yield of overall C-2-C-4 alkenes was achieved, and then decreased above this temperature. The conversions of n-butane and oxygen were maintained constants within 6 h periods at the reaction temperatures of 550 and 600 degreesC. However, both conversions decreased slightly with time-on-stream at 650 degreesC. BiOCl catalyst shows rather high alkenes' selectivity and suppresses deep oxidation reactions for the oxidative: cracking of n-butane, as compared to the LaOCl and SmOCl catalysts. The overall yield of C-2-C-4 alkenes for the BiOCl catalyst is higher than the values for the LaOCl and SmOCl catalysts over the temperature range of 500-600 degreesC.