Nanocrystalline $Zn_{1-x}Cu_xFe_2O_4$ ferrites with $x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25$ and $0.50$ were prepared by microwave assisted combustion method using metal nitrates and glycine as a fuel. Structural properties of the as-synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD). The magnetic properties were measured using vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). XRD analysis indicates the prepared samples are highly crystalline and they have fine structure, where their crystallite sizes are in the nanoscale range from $20-40$ nm. The saturation magnetization ($M_s$) and magnetic moment show an increase with Cu content ($x$) up to $x = 0.2$ reached to about $58$ emu/g, and then it decreases slightly. The catalytic performance for the as prepared samples was carried out using dehydration-dehydrogenation of isopropanol. The results revealed that the catalytic conversion of isopropanol increases with Cu substitution. The isopropanol conversion reached to about $99\%$ with $76\%$ and $24\%$ yields of acetone and propene respectively.