Hydrous zirconia and grafted zirconium 1-propoxide catalysts were found active in the Oppenauer oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol, geraniol and 4-tert-butylcyclohexanol (cis- and trans-). The most active hydrous zirconia catalysts were formed by calcining at 250-300degreesC. Grafted zirconium 1-propoxide on silica gel and MCM-41 were active in the Oppenauer oxidation of geraniol with high selectivity to the desired citral product. However, over an acidic support such as AlMCM, the grafted zirconium 1-propoxide catalysed the dehydration and isomerisation of the alcohol, leading to low yield to citral. Also, furfural was found to be an efficient oxidant for the titled Oppenauer oxidation. Other solid catalysts such as gamma-Al2O3, Na-Al2O3, zeolite beta and Mg/Al hydrotalcite showed only moderate catalytic activity and selectivity in the Oppenauer oxidation of geraniol. As compared to other solid catalysts, hydrous zirconia solid catalysts used in this work are active and selective towards the formation of desired carbonyl oxidation products; additionally, these solid zirconia catalysts are easy to prepare and recycle, and applicable to different alcohol substrates. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.