Activities of two catalysts obtained from hydroxide and alkoxide precursors were correlated to their different structural and textural properties. Activity is mainly determined by the presence of active tetragonal phase, which is more stable at high temperatures in the catalyst of alkoxide origin than in one from hydroxide. An appropriate structure must be accompanied with beneficial pore structure, as is the case of mesopores of the catalyst from alkoxide. In the case of very small pores of the catalyst from hydroxide precursor, activity is negligible due to pores plugged by coke.