Iron(III)-Salen intercalated et-zirconium phosphate. abbreviated as {alpha-ZrP center dot Fe(Salen)} was synthesized in situ by the flexible ligand method. The resulting compound was characterized by BET surface area. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier transform infrared. Mossbauer and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of alpha-ZrP center dot Fe(Salen) with dry tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant was studied for oxidation of cyclohexene. In the oxidation reaction, cyclohexene was oxidized to cyclohexene oxide. cyclohexenol and cyclohexenone. A maximum conversion of 18.04% for the oxidation of cyclohexene was observed after 5 h of reaction when concentrations of the catalyst, the substrate and the oxidant were 0.20, 20 and 4 mmol respectively. The catalyst. alpha-ZrP center dot Fe(Salen) was recycled for eight cycles. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.