Supported catalysts containing 15 wt.% of molybdenum have been prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method. CaO, MgO, Al2O3, Zr(OH)(4) and Al(OH)(3) have been used as supports for the preparation of supported Mo catalysts. Characterisation of all the materials prepared has been carried out through BET surface area measurement, X-ray diffractometry and FT-IR spectroscopy. Catalytic activity measurements have been carried out with reference to structure-sensitive benzyl alcohol conversion in the liquid phase. The percentage conversion of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde and toluene varied over a large range depending on the support used for the preparation of catalysts, indicating the importance of the support on catalytic activity of Mo catalysts. Al(OH)(3) has been found to be the best support for molybdenum among all the supports used. Support-metal interaction (SMI) has been found to play an important role in determining the catalytic activity of supported catalysts. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.