C-13 CP MAS NMR analysis of the products of the interaction of methane, ethane and propane with alpha-Ga2O3 or Ga-modified zeolite BEA at 523-623 K shows that dissociative adsorption of C-1-C-3 alkanes on the surface of gallium oxide or Ga-modified zeolite BEA results to the formation of Ga-methyl. Ga-ethyl and Ga-propyl species. This observation allows one to conclude that Ga-alkyls, rather than earlier suggested alkoxy species, could be the intermediates in small alkane dehydrogenation and aromatization on these catalysts. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.