Carbon-based　catalysts　have　demonstrated　great　potential　for　the　aerobic　oxidative　dehydrogenation　reaction　(ODH).　However,　its　widespread　application　is　retarded　by　the　unavoidable　deactivation　owing　to　the　appearance　of　coking　or　combustion　under　ODH　conditions.　The　synthesis　and　characterization　of　porous　structure　of　BCN　nanosheets　as　well　as　their　application　as　a　novel　catalyst　for　ODH　is　reported.　Such　BCN　nanosheets　consist　of　hybridized,　randomly　distributed　domains　of　h-BN　and　C　phases,　where　C,　B,　and　N　were　confirmed　to　covalent　bond　in　the　graphene-like　layers.　Our　studies　reveal　that　BCN　exhibits　both　high　activity　and　selectivity　in　oxidative　dehydrogenation　of　ethylbenzene　to　styrene,　as　well　as　excellent　oxidation　resistance.　The　discovery　of　such　a　simple　chemical　process　to　synthesize　highly　active　BCN　allows　the　possibility　of　carbocatalysis　to　be　explored.　©　2017　Wiley-VCH　Verlag　GmbH　&　Co.　KGaA,　Weinheim