Catalytic properties of copper intermetallides with Mg, Ga, In, La, Pr, Si, Ti, Ge, Zr, Sn, Se and Te have been examined. Most selective with respect to the yield of formaldehyde are Cu3Si and Cu31Sn8. Cu9Ga4, Cu3Ge, Cu2Se and Cu2Te are catalytically inactive. Cu6La and Cu6Pr possess high dehydrogenating activity but are not selective toward formaldehyde.