Catalytic oxidation of olefins (styrene and cyclohexene) and alcohols (benzyl alcohol and cyclohexanol) under air pressure by molecular oxygen over Cu-2(OH)PO4 and Cu4O(PO4)(2) catalysts has been studied. The catalytic data show that these catalysts are very active in the catalytic oxidation of olefins and alcohols. Adsorption of molecular oxygen on Cu-2(OH)PO4 and Cu4O(PO4)(2) catalysts shows a peak at 802 cm(-1) in infrared (IR) spectroscopy, assigned to adsorbed-oxygen species. Characterization of Cu-2(OH)PO4 and CU4O(PO4)(2) catalysts with molecular oxygen in solvent by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra shows typical signals assigned to hydroxyl radicals, which may be responsible for the high catalytic activities of the catalysts. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.