A commercially available acid-activated montmorillonite clay catalyst, K10 montmorillonite, was tested for the catalytic oxidation of cyclic ketones in the presence of molecular oxygen under mild conditions (343 K and atmospheric pressure). K10 montmorillonite catalyzed the oxidative cleavage of C-C bonds in 2-methylcyclohexanone, 2-phenylcyclohexanone, 2-hydroxylcyclohexanone and 1,2-cyclohexanedione with good activity and excellent selectivity toward the formation of the corresponding ketoacids and diacids. The effects of acidity, amount of catalyst, temperature and solvent on the catalytic activity were investigated. Furthermore, this catalyst was reusable without any appreciable loss in activity and selectivity. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.