The present work addresses the influence of microwave irradiation on undoped and doped vanadium phosphate catalysts. These catalysts were prepared via VOPO4 center dot 2H(2)O. The catalyst's precursors' VOHPO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O were subjected to microwave irradiation and comparison was made with the conventional heating. The interaction of these complex materials with microwave and the addition of several doponts (Nb, Bi, Co, Mo) provide interesting improvements in catalyst preparation found to be a faster, develop higher surface area, higher activity and selectivity for the oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride. All the catalysts were characterized by using a combination of powder XRD, H-2-TPR, BET surface area and SEM.