Silica-supported alkoxo-tantalum complexes were used in the deperoxidation of cyclohexyl hydroperoxide into cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. The effects of the number of bonds with the silica support and of the nature of the alkoxo ligands were studied. In all cases the activity was quite the same and was relatively good for a heterogeneous catalyst. The main interest of these systems is that there is no leaching of tantalum in the reaction medium, leading to an easy recycling of the catalyst. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.