Ruthenium/magnesium–lanthanum mixed oxide: An efficient reusable catalyst for oxidation of alcohols by using molecular oxygen

Abstract An efficient method for the oxidation of benzylic and secondary aromatic alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes or ketones has been achieved by using ruthenium supported magnesium–lanthanum mixed oxide as a heterogeneous catalyst in toluene, with molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant. This catalyst can also be operated in solvent free conditions at 393 K and reused for five cycles with consistent yield and selectivity.