Effects of Cs+, H+ and Cu2+ counterions in the vanadium containing heteropoly compounds CsxH1-xVO[PMo12O40] and CsyH0.5-yCu0.25VO[PMo12O40] on the catalytic oxidation of isobutane and characterization by TGA, IR and ESR spectroscopies are reported. A high selectivity of 76% for methacrylic acid and methacrolein together has been obtained with Cs0.75H0.25VO[PMo12O40] catalysts at a reactivity of 5.3x10(-1) mmol/h cm(3).