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. (C)2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.