Mo-SBA-1 was successfully synthesized via sol-gel process using silatrane and molybdenum glycolate precursors as silica and molybdenum sources, respectively, and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(16)TMAB) as template at room temperature. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) result showed the characteristics of a three-dimensional cubic structure, Pm3n space group. The incorporation of the molybdenum species into the SBA-1 framework was indicated by the diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-visible (DRUV) result, and it was found that 5 mol% of molybdenum could be introduced into the SBA-1 without any extra-framework species. The activity of the synthesized Mo-SBA-1 catalyst was investigated via epoxidation reaction of styrene monomer, and it showed high activity. The only products of this reaction were styrene oxide and benzaldehyde. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.