Coupling of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with nitrobenzene hydrogenation (ODE-N), over activated carbons catalysts, has been investigated. Activated carbon was prepared from cherry stones and modified with different chemical agents in the liquid phase (HNO3, CH3COOOH, H2O2, (NH4)(2)S2O8) or gas phase (air, hydrogen, ammonia) or was subjected to thermal treatment to obtain materials with different surface properties. The initial carbon and the modified samples were tested in the ODE-N process in temperatures 300-450 degrees C. All the carbon samples obtained were found to catalyse the ODE-N reaction leading to formation of two industrially important products: styrene and aniline. The catalyst deactivation, related to formation of carbonaceous deposit, was observed and this process was more rapid in elevated temperatures. No correlation was found between the yield of products obtained in the ODE-N reaction and the catalyst chemical composition. (C) 2011 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.