Aromatic and alkyl alcohols were oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes or ketones at room temperature with high conversion and selectivity using Oxone (2KHSO5·KHSO4·K2SO4) as oxidant catalyzed by ruthenium complex Quin-Ru-Quin (where Quin = 8-hydroxyquinoline). The reaction time is very short and the preparation of complex is simple. 2008 Zi Qiang Lei. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.