A series of V-MCM-41 samples with different pore sizes has been systematically investigated with both gas and liquid phase reactions. Methanol oxidation has been performed in the gas phase on these catalysts. Turnover frequencies are normalized by oxygen uptake measured underreaction conditions. A strong effect of pore size on the catalytic activity was observed in the form of a "volcano curve" and may be correlated with a Variation in the local bond angle of Si-O-V. Considering this effect, the catalytic activity may be ＇tuned＇ to maximum by Varying the pore size. As expected, the same effect was observed in the liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexene. In order to interpret the pore size effect, the reaction rates of both the gas phase and liquid phase oxidation were then correlated with the variation of edge energies of V K-edge XANES on these MCM-41 catalysts. Additional reactions were performed in the liquid phase to compare the activity of V-MCM-41 with that of crystalline vanadium and titanium silicalite zeolites. The possible causes of the difference in the catalytic behaviors of these materials is also discussed.