A catalyst for production of unsaturated aldehydes, such as methacrolein,
by gas phase catalytic oxidation of olefins, such as isobutylene,
contains oxides of molybdenum, bismuth, iron, cesium and, optionally,
other metals. The catalyst has a certain relative amount ratio of cesium
to bismuth, a certain relative amount ratio of iron to bismuth and a
certain relative amount ratio of bismuth, iron, cesium and certain other
metals to molybdenum and, optionally, tungsten. For a catalyst of the
formula: Mo.sub.12Bi.sub.aW.sub.bFe.sub.cCo.sub.dNi.sub.eSb.sub.fCs.sub.g-
Mg.sub.hZn.sub.iP.sub.jO.sub.x wherein a is 0.1 to 1.5, b is 0 to 4, c is
0.2 to 5.0, d is 0 to 9, e is 0 to 9, f is 0 to 2.0, g is from 0.4 to
1.5, h is 0 to 1.5, i is 0 to 2.0, j is 0 to 0.5 and x is determined by
the valences of the other components, c:g=3.3 5.0, c:a=2.0 6.0 and
(3a+3c+2d+2e+g+2h+2i)/(2.times.12+2b)=0.95 1.10.