Abstract: A catalytic composition is produced by reacting in an aqueous medium, vanadium and phosphorus compounds together with a hydrogen halide and removing liquid from the resulting reactants to form a solid which in an improved manner is heated at a temperature of about less than 470.degree. C. to effect liberation of water of hydration from the solid and thereafter contacting with a reducing material selected from the group of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide at a temperature of from about 300.degree. to about 600.degree. C. and in the substantial absence of gaseous oxygen other than that liberated from the solid. The specific reduction step as taught and claimed herein improves catalyst activity performance by increasing the catalyst conversion and selectivity to a desired oxygenated product, and the ultimate yield of the oxygenated product per quantity of feed component converted. It also minimizes formation of inactive VPO.sub.

Abstract: A catalytic composition is produced by reacting in an aqueous medium, vanadium and phosphorus compounds together with a hydrogen halide and removing liquid from the resulting reactants to form a solid which in an improved manner is heated at a temperature of about less than 470.degree. C. to effect liberation of water of hydration from the solid and thereafter contacting with a reducing material selected from the group of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide at a temperature of from about 300.degree. to about 600.degree. C. and in the substantial absence of gaseous oxygen other than that liberated from the solid. The specific reduction step as taught and claimed herein improves catalyst activity performance by increasing the catalyst conversion and selectivity to a desired oxygenated product, and the ultimate yield of the oxygenated product per quantity of feed component converted. It also minimizes formation of inactive VPO.sub.