Cyclohexyl hydroperoxide, a key intermediate in the cyclohexane autoxidation for the manufacture of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol, was decomposed over transition metal-free zeolite H-beta. The CHHP decomposition efficiency reached 191 mmol g(-1) h(-1), which is almost equal to that over 5% Ru/Al2O3 under the same conditions. The highest combined yield of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone reached 84.6 mol% at 125 degrees C. Elevation of reaction temperature can increase the activity and selectivity to cyclohexanone. Correlating study between the catalytic activity and the acidity reveals that the medium strength Bronsted acid sites of H-beta are the main active centers for the decomposition reaction. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.