Three-dimensionally (3D) ordered and wormhole-like mesoporous iron oxides (denoted as Fe-KIT6 and Fe-CA) were respectively prepared by adopting the 3D ordered mesoporous silica KIT-6-templating and modified citric acid-complexing strategies, and characterized by a number of analytical techniques. It is shown that the Fe-KIT6-400 and Fe-CA-400 catalysts derived after 400 degrees C-calcination possessed high surface areas (113-165 m(2)/g), high surface adsorbed oxygen concentrations, and good low-temperature reducibility, giving 90% conversion below 189 and 208 degrees C for acetone and methanol oxidation at 20,000 mL/(g h), respectively. It is believed that the good catalytic performance of Fe-CA-400 and Fe-KIT6-400 was related to factors such as higher surface area and oxygen adspecies concentration, better low-temperature reducibility, and 3D mesoporous architecture. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.