Three-dimensional　(3D)　mesoporous　tetragonal　MnO2　(MnO2-SBA16　and　Mn02-KIT6)　and　cubic　Co3O4　(Co3O4-SBA16　and　Co3O4-KIT6)　with　high　surface　areas　(102-184　m(2)/g)　were,　respectively　prepared　using　the　nanocasting　strategy　with　SBA-16　and　KIT-6　as　templates.　The　KIT-6-　and　SBA-16-derived　samples　displayed　3D　ordered　and　wormhole-like　mesoporous　structures,　respectively.　The　oxygen　adspecies　concentration　and　low-temperature　reducibility　decreased　in　the　orders　of　MnO2-KIT6　＞　MnO2-SBA16　＞　MnO2-bulk　and　of　Co3O4-KIT6　＞　Co3O4-SBA16　＞　Co3O4-bulk,　in　agreement　with　their　catalytic　performance　sequences.　The　porous　MnO2　catalysts　(T-90%　217-220　degrees　C)　outperformed　the　porous　Co3O4　catalysts　(T-90%　=　233-240　degrees　C)　for　toluene　oxidation,　but　the　latter　(T-90%　=　129-132　degrees　C)　were　superior　to　the　former　(T-90%　=　158-178　degrees　C)　in　catalytic　activity　for　CO　oxidation.　It　is　concluded　that　the　high　surface　area　and　oxygen　adspecies　concentrations,　good　low-temperature　reducibility,　and　high-quality　3D　ordered　mesoporous　architecture　accounted　for　the　excellent　catalytic　performance　of　Mn02-KIT6　and　Co3O4-KIT6.　(c)　2012　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.