Transformation of propene adsorbed on ZnO in a closed reactor at 296-623 K has been monitored with H-1 and C-13 solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Propane was detected to be formed as one of the reaction products and a simple aromatics of the average composition C7H8 as the other product. The mechanism of propene disproportionation, detected for the first time on zinc oxide catalyst, is discussed. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.