A new three-component catalytic system, water/ionic liquid/metal phthalocyanine complex, was studied for the oxidition of cysteine to prepare cystine. It was found that the water/ 1-n-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([hmim][BF4])/iron (II) phthalocyanine ((FePc)-Pc-II) system exhibited an excellent catalytic activity in the oxidition of cysteine. Cystine was obtained with 98% isolated yield in 12 h at the temperature of 80 degrees C. Further more, the catalytic system can be easily recovered and recycled in the following run without apparent reduction in catalytic activity.