A series of transition metal complexes of 3-[N,N'-bis-3-(salicylidenamino)ethyltriamine] (salten) immobilized on MCM-41 were prepared for the solvent and additive-free selective oxidation of cyclohexanol with 30 % hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The immobilized complexes were effective catalysts and exhibited much higher catalytic performance than their homogeneous analogues. Moreover, the metal centers were found to play important roles in the catalytic performance of immobilized complexes. When the immobilized chromium complex was used as catalyst, the optimal cyclohexanol conversion could reach 90.5 % with 100 % of the selectivity to cyclohexanone. In addition, the catalytic performance remained after being recycled five times.