Copper-containing mesoporous catalysts with an MCM-41 type structure have been prepared using direct hydrothermal synthesis and characterized using XRD, AAS, N-2 adsorption-desorption, DRUV-vis, and TEM All of the samples showed high structural regularity and surface area Three copper species are presented in these materials isolated mononuclear Cu delta+ species, oligonuclear [Cu delta+ center dot O delta- Cu delta+](n) clusters, and bulky CuO oxides These materials were catalytically tested in isopropanol dehydrogenation, showing good activity and very high selectivity to propanone at 300 degrees C A further reduction treatment of the samples allowed us to suggest possible active species Both the [Cu delta+ O delta- Cu delta+](n) clusters and the isolated Cu delta+ cations seem to be the species responsible for isopropanol dehydrogenation