The synthesis of mesoporous Cr-AlPO was carried out under hydrothermal conditions. Characterisation of the catalyst was done with low angle XRD, N 2 adsorption, UV-VISDRS, ESR and thermal analysis. The catalytic activity was tested for partial oxidation of toluene with molecular oxygen in vapour phase. It was observed that Cr-AlPO functions both as acid and redox catalyst. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.