The dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene (EB) to styrene (ST) in the presence of carbon dioxide instead of steam is believed to be an energy-saving and environmentally friendly process. However, the reaction mechanism for this coupling system still remains unclear. Therefore, the role of carbon dioxide was investigated by means of catalytic reactions and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of carbon dioxide over a series of Fe and V supported catalysts as well as thermodynamic analysis. The results showed that the ethylbenzene conversion is associated with the conversion of carbon dioxide, and that there exists a synergistic effect between the ethylbenzene dehydrogenation and the reverse water-gas shift. However, the difference in the behaviour of the catalysts between the single reverse water-gas shift and the coupled ethylbenzene dehydrogenation may suggest that the catalysts are different in the reaction mechanisms for the coupled ethylbenzene dehydrogenation. Carbon dioxide can be activated through either basic sites or redox sites on the catalyst. Based on these results, the role of carbon dioxide and reaction mechanisms are proposed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.