Al2O3/MgO materials with various Mg/Al molar ratios were prepared and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM and BET analysis. These materials were used as catalysts for synthesis of 1-phenoxy-2-propanol (1-PhP) from phenol and propylene oxide as compared with some oxides, i.e. MgO, CaO, ZnO and Al2O3. etc. Al2O3/MgO with Al/Mg molar ratio of 1.5% exhibited outstanding catalytic performance with 98.2% conversion and 99.3% selectivity to 1-PhP at 120 degrees C for 5 h. This catalyst can be easily recovered and reused due to its heterogeneous catalytic nature. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.