A CuCl2 complex with a pyridyl-ethanimine ligand has been prepared and examined as a catalyst for the oxidation of ethylbenzene with tert-butyl hydroperoxide at 30 A degrees C, using acetonitrile or the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium hexafluorophosphate as solvent. A heterogenised version of the complex based on a chemically modified ordered mesoporous silica is described.