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Greatly efficient chemical processes are customarily based upon a catalyst activating the process pathway to achieve higher yields of a product with desired specifications. Catalysts capable of achieving good performance without compromising green credentials are a pre-requisite for the development of a sustainable process. In this study, CeO₂ nanoparticles were tested for their catalytic activity with two different configurations, one as a hybrid of CeO₂ nanoparticles with Zeolitic Immidazole Framework (ZIF-67) and second being doped Cu cations into CeO₂ nanoparticles. Physicochemical and catalytic activity was investigated and compared for both systems. Each hybrid was synthesized by embedding the CeO₂ nanoparticles into the microporous structure of ZIF-67, and Cu doped CeO₂ nanoparticles were prepared by a facile hydrothermal route. As a catalytic test, it was employed for the oxidation of cyclohexene to adipic acid (AA) as an alternative to expensive noble metal-based catalysts. Heterogeneous ZIF-67/CeO₂ found catalytical activity towards the oxidation of cyclohexene with nearly complete conversion of cyclohexene into AA under moderate and co-catalyst free reaction conditions, whereas Cu doped CeO₂ nanoparticles have shown no catalytic activity towards cyclohexene conversion, depicting the advantages of the porous ZIF-67 structure and its synergistic effect with CeO₂ nanoparticles. The large surface area catalyst could be a viable option for the green synthesis of many other chemicals.