Two ZrO2-based catalysts have been synthesized by thermal treatment of a gel prepared from ZrOCl2 . 8H(2)O. The effect of different preparation parameters on the final properties of the solids was studied. Textural characterization was carried out from nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. XRD and FT-Raman spectroscopy have been used to elucidate the physical state of the catalysts. Their acid-base properties were studied following temperature programmed desorption-mass spectrometry and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform techniques, by using pyridine, 2,6-dimethylpyridine and carbon dioxide as probe molecules. Both solids were tested for the 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol reaction by using two different procedures: (a) in a microcatalytic pulse reactor and (b) through isotherm and temperature programmed surface reactions in a how reactor. In addition, temperature programmed oxidation and temperature programmed desorption experiments revealed that catalyst deactivation was caused by carbon deposition on the catalytic surface. Amphoteric selectivity for both solids, leading to 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butanone and 3-methyl-3-buten-2-one, depends on the reaction temperature; thus, it is 92% at 225 degrees C for a catalyst calcined at 400 degrees C (ZrO2-400VAC).