MCM-41, Y, ZSM-5, and zeolite-supported copper catalysts prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method were used for the coupling reaction between methanol dehydrogenation and maleic anhydride hydrogenation in a fixed bed reactor. The Cu/MCM-41 catalyst with low acidity favoured methanol dehydrogenation to methyl formate and maleic anhydride hydrogenation to -butyrolactone, while Cu/Y, Cu/ZSM-5, and Cu/ catalysts with high acidities favoured methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether and the formation of dimethyl succinate. When the coupling reaction over the Cu/MCM-41 catalyst was carried out at 240-300 degrees C, the selectivities of methyl formate and -butyrolactone reached 88% and 72%, respectively. The coupling reaction over the Cu/MCM-41 catalyst had good compensation for hydrogen and reaction heat.