The invention disclosed is a process for the selective conversion of an alkane to an unsaturated carboxylic acid in a one-step process with a mixed metal oxide catalyst composition having the general formula:

MoV_aNb_bTe_cSb_dM_eO_x

wherein M is optional and may be one or more selected from silver, silicon, sulfur, zirconium, titanium, aluminum, copper, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, gallium, phosphorus, iron, rhenium, cobalt, chromium, manganese, arsenic, indium, thallium, bismuth, germanium, tin, cerium or lanthanum. This catalyst may be prepared by co-precipitation of metal compounds which are calcined to form a mixed metal oxide catalyst.