A newly developed mesoporous mixed metal oxide (K-Cu-TiO2) catalyst is capable of highly selective, gas-phase benzyl alcoholbenzaldehyde transformation at excellent yields (>99%) under surprisingly low temperatures (203 degrees C, bp of benzyl alcohol). The tow-temperature reaction conditions and integration of K and Cu(I) components into the TiO2 matrix are of vital importance for the stabilization of an active Cu(I) oxidation state and resultant stable, excellent catalytic performance.