Disclosed is a method of making an active and abrasion resistant catalyst composition comprising at least 5 weight percent alumina support and at most 95 percent of a complex oxide composition having the empirical formula:VSb.sub.m A.sub.a H.sub.b C.sub.c O.sub.x,whereA is one or more of W, Sn, Mo, B, P and Ge;H is one or more of Cu, Ag, Nb, Ta, Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Pb, Mn, Zn, Se, Te, Ga, In and As;C is one or more of an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and rare earths; andwhere m is from 0.01 and up to 20; a is 0-10; b is 0-20; c is 0-20 (usually 0-1); the ratio (a+b+c):(1+m) is 0.01-6; wherein x is determined by the oxidation state of the other elements, which method comprises mixing a hydrosol or gel of boehmite with a slurry or solution containing the other batch materials containing the elements of said formula, and thereafter drying and calcining the resultant solid.