Syntheses of thermally stable chromium-incorporating hexagonal mesoporous aluminophosphate and cubic Cr-MCM-48 were reported. Characterization of the catalysts was made using low angle XRD, N2 adsorption, UV-VISDRS, thermal anal., ICP-AES and ESR. Mesoporous Cr-AlPO4 and Cr-MCM-48 catalysts have been found to be active for the vapor phase oxidn. of toluene with mol. oxygen. Mesoporous Cr-AlPO4 is found to exhibit both acidic and redox properties and hence oxidn. as well as dealkylation reactions are taking place in a concerted manner, whereas, the cubic silicate analog acts as a pure redox catalyst. [on SciFinder (R)]