The molybdenum complex of pyridine Schiff-base, [MoO2(L)(EtOH)] [L=2-(pyridin-2-ylmethylidene)aminophenol] was synthesized using one-pot reaction. The complex was characterized the methods of by FTIR, TG, XPS, elemental analysis and ICP. The catalytic activity for the epoxidation of soybean oil by tert-butyl hydroperoxide was studied. The influencing factors of reaction were studied such as the reaction temperature, reaction time, mass of catalyst, soybean oil and oxidant molar ratio. Under the conditions of molar ratio of soybean oil to tert-butyl hydroperoxide = 1:1.5, dosage of catalyst = 30 mg, reaction temperature at 80℃ and reaction time = 10 h, the conversion of soybean oil is 69.7% and the selectivity of epoxidized soybean oil is 62.9%.