A microwave-assisted glycothermal method was used to prepare LaMnO3 perovskite oxides using different diols: 1,2-ethanediol, 1,2-propanediol and 1,4-butanediol as reaction medium. The effect of diols on the physicochemical properties of obtained materials was studied. The properties of these materials were characterised by various techniques (XRD, TEM/SEM, XPS, TPR-H-2, TPD-O-2, TPD-O-2, N-2 adsorption desorption), and their catalytic performances were evaluated for the total oxidation of lean propane, which was chosen as a model molecule of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It was shown that well formed perovskite structures with trigonal symmetry were obtained for all samples but traces of La(2)o(3) phase were detected for sample prepared by using 1,2-propanediol. The effect of solvent on textural properties and morphology, the amount of desorbed oxygen species, tedox properties and basicity of LaMno(3) oxides was determined. The higher capacity for surface adsorbed oxygen, the most basic nature, better low-temperature reducibility and well developed surface area and pore volume, as well as higher catalytic activity for propane degradation were found when 1,2-ethanediol was used as a solvent. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.