In the absence of phase-transfer agents, the ligand effects are studied for the clean synthesis of adipic acid by direct oxidation of cyclohexene catalyzed by Na2WO4.2H(2)O with 30% hydrogen peroxide. In most cases, the isolated yield of the target product adipic acid is high if the ligand acidity is strong. Although the acidity of some phenolic ligands, L(+)ascorbic acid and 8-quinolinol is weak, the isolated yield of adipic acid is still high. It is demonstrated that the acid and coordination effect of the ligand play the same important role in the Na2WO4.2H(2)O catalyzed oxidation of cyclohexene to adipic acid with 30% hydrogen peroxide. Kinetic investigations show that the hydrolysis of cyclohexene oxide to 1,2-cyclohexandiol is the critical step and the acidity of reaction system is important.