Catalytic conversion of 4-methyl-pentan-2-ol (MPO) was investigated over oxidic materials obtained by the calcination of MgNiCuAl layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors. Keeping constant the M2+/M3+ ratio equal to 2 (where M2+ = Mg2+, Cu2+, Ni2+ and M3+ = Al3+) various compositions of LDHs were prepared and characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), N-2 adsorption/desorption and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). The acid-base properties have been investigated by the means of physico-chemical methods such as microcalorimetry, by using ammonia (for acid sites) and carbon dioxide (for base sites) as probe molecules. The conversion of 4-methyl-pentan-2-ol (MPO) was chosen as test reaction to investigate the catalytic activity and selectivity of the oxidic materials obtained by the calcination of MgNiCuAl LDHs and to correlate them with the acid-base properties of the oxide surfaces. Copper was found to increase the alcohol dehydrogenation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.