The synthesis in the presence of alkali ions of two novel vanadium containing zeolites V-Al-EU-1 and V-Al-ZSM-22 is reported. Both V4+- and V5+-ions are present in as-synthesized samples. Cyclic voltammograms of the samples reveal the presence of two types of V5+ in the calcined samples. A weak shoulder at similar to 980 cm(-1) is observed in the IR spectra of the calcined samples. On extraction with acid a sharp band appears at similar to 960 cm(-1). The acid washed samples are more active in the hydroxylation of phenol and the oxidation of toluene (with H2O2) than the calcined samples.