The effect of ion exchange conditions, such as Si/Al ratio, precursor copper salt, pH and concentration of the solution, on the catalytic activity in SCR of NO by propane and on the electronic state of copper ions in Cu-ZSM-5 has been studied. The NO conversion in NO SCR by C3H8 has been found to reach a maximum value at Cu/Al ratio about 0.37-0.4 and remain constant at higher Cu/Al. ESR and UV-vis DR spectroscopy have been used to elucidate stabilization conditions of copper ions in Cu-ZSM-5 zeolites as isolated Cu2+ ions, chain copper oxide structures and square-plain oxide clusters. The ability of copper ions for reduction and reoxidation in the chain structures may be responsible for the catalytic activity of Cu-ZSM-5. These transformations of copper ions are accompanied by the observation of intervalence transitions Cu2+-Cu+ and CTLM of the chain structures in the UV-vis spectra. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.