Table 1. Loss of catalyst activity during oxidation of benzyl alcohol^a.

entry	catalyst source	yieldb (%)
1	first use	>98
2	second use	17
3	after NaOH regenerationc	>98

^a0.15 M benzyl alcohol, 3.3 mol % Ru as Ru(OH)_x/Al₂O₃, 80 °C, 1 h, 1 bar O₂, 1.5 mL toluene.

^bGC yield using tetradecane as an internal standard.

^cUsed catalyst was stirred in 0.1 M NaOH for 16 h, then washed with water and dried in vacuum prior to reuse.