A catalyst for an oxidation reaction of a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes and mixtures thereof, said catalyst comprising Mo, Te, V and at least another A component selected from the group consisting of Nb, Ta, Sn, Se, W, Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr and a rare earth, also comprising Cu, and having the empiric formula MoTehViCujAkOx, in such a way that at least Mo, Te, V and Cu are present in the form of at least one oxide and which, in the calcined form, shows an X-ray diffractogram with five intense diffraction lines corresponding to diffraction angles of 2θ at 22.1+−0.4, 27.1+−0.4;
- 28.1+−0.4, 36.0+−0.4 and 45.1+−0.4, wherein h, i, i, k are between 0.001 and 4.0 and x depends on the oxidation status or valency of the Mo, Te, V, Cu and A elements.