The catalytic properties of an Al 2O 3-coated catalyst formed by anodic oxidation of aluminium were compared with those of α- and of γ-Al 2O 3- bulk catalysts in the dehydration of 2-propanol and in the isomerization of n-butenes. In the dehydration reaction both the Al 2O 3-coated catalyst and the γ-Al 2O 3 bulk catalyst show approx. the same activities and activation energies. However, the reaction rate based on the unit of the surface area for the Al 2O 3-coated catalyst is approx. 30 times larger than that for the γ-A1 2O 3 bulk catalyst. In the isomerization of the individual isomeric n-butenes the Al 2O 3-coated catalyst was more active than the γ-Al 2O 3, bulk catalyst and under otherwise equal conditions equilibrium was reached at approx. 80 K lower temperature.