The selective oxidation of alcohols with molecular oxygen was efficiently completed in high conversion and selectivity using HPW/MCM-41 as a heterogeneous photocatalyst in ionic liquids, [bmim]PF6, [omim]BF4 and [hmim]BF4. Comparative studies on the catalytic properties of HPWIMCM-41, HPW to MCM-41 were carried out. Some important variables, e.g. the loading amount of HPW on MCM-41 and the effects of different ionic liquids were discussed in this work. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.