The catalytic performance of vanadyl pyrophosphate (VPP) catalysts in the oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride (MA) depends strongly on the display of the active and selective {0 01} faces, that may be controlled during the preparation of VOHPO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O precursor by solvothermal technique using C-2 to C-4 alkanoic alcohols. Intercalated metastable vanadyl-alkyl-phosphates were formed when linear alcohols (ethanol, n-butanol) were used, at variance with iso-alcohols. {0 0 1} platelets of VOHPO4 center dot 0.5H(2)O yielded {2 0 0} platelets to (VO)(2)P2O7 in nitrogen or in situ in the reactor, as revealed by structural analyses. The catalysts prepared in ethanol or n-butanol in situ activated at 440 degrees C were more active and selective to MA than in iso-alcohols, but if the equilibration was performed at 380 degrees C the influence of alcohol was mitigated. The highest MA yield was obtained with the ethanol-derived catalyst, which exhibited the smallest platy crystallites of (VO)(2)P2O7, as well as surface V5+ species as seen by XPS. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.