Abstract: Increasing attention has been paid recently to the double-bond positional isomerization of n-butene because of the availability of large C4 resources and the demand of 1-butene. The thermodynamics and kinetics of the double-bond positional isomerization of n-butene are described and the advances in isomerization catalysts are reviewed. The reaction mechanism of the double-bond positional isomerization is analyzed. The activity，selectivity and active sites of metal oxides，metal carbides and nitrides，metal sulfates and phosphates，metals，molecular sieve，ion-exchanged resins and ionic liquids are compared. The advantages and shortcomings of the above catalysts are evaluated. Different catalysts have different mechanisms of isomerization and are appropriate for different feed compositions and operation conditions.