Synthesis, characterization and catalysis of (Co, V)-, (Co, Cr)-and (Cr, V)APO-5 molecular sieves ) molecular sieves have been hydrothermally synthesized and characterized. The as-synthesized and calcined samples were investigated with XRD, ICP, DRS UV-vis spectroscopy, ESR, 27 Al MAS NMR techniques to explore the valence, coordination and location of the incorporated transition metal ions. It was shown that isomorphous substitution of Co 2+ for Al 3+ convincingly occurred, and V 4+ also anchored to the sample by coordinating to two framework oxygen atoms and most probably occupying P 5+ sites, while no unambiguous spectroscopic evidence was provided for the incorporation of Cr 3+ in the lattice, although chemical analysis suggests this possibility in the case that Co 2+ or V 4+ are added to the synthesis gel. The preferential sequence for the incorporation of these transition metal ions in the AFI framework is: Co 2+ > V 4+ > Cr 3+ . After calcination, almost all V 4+ ions were oxidized to V 5+ , whereas Cr 3+ ions were oxidized to Cr 5+ and Cr 6+ . As catalysts, the (M, N)APO-5 molecular sieves are highly active for the selective oxidation of cyclohexane with a high cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol ratio in the presence of H 2 O 2 . The reaction temperature and solvent significantly influenced the catalytic behavior. Although some leaching of the transition metal ions was observed, the catalytic performance remained stable at least within five repeated runs.