In this paper we report the immobilization and characterization of neutral and pentacationic iron porphyrins into the nanometric pores of an inorganic matrix (porous vycor glass, PVG) and the use of these materials as catalyst in mimetic-enzymatic processes. The concentration of iron porphyrin in the large glass pores depends on the conditions present during the incorporation process. The materials obtained were used as catalyst in the oxidation reaction of cyclohexane and cyclohexene by iodosylbenzene. The catalytic results were promising, evidencing adequate characteristics of PVG for immobilization of iron porphyrin and strong potential of these nanocomposites for heterogeneous catalytic procedures. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.