Preparation and use of tetra-n-butylammonium per-ruthenate (TBAP reagent) and tetra-n-propylammonium per-ruthenate (TPAP reagent) as new catalytic oxidants for alcohols

Tetra-n-butylammonium per-ruthenate (Bun4N)(RuO4) and tetra-n-propylammonium per-ruthenate (Prn4N)(RuO4), with N-methylmorpholine N-oxide, function as mild catalytic oxidants for the high yield conversion of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones and are competitive with more conventional reagents.