Iron complexes with the polydentate ligand bis(2-pyridinylmethyl)amine (BPA) were employed as catalysts for the oxidation of glycerol using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. The only observed reaction products were dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and formic acid. Although the overall conversion was in all cases lower than 50%, by accurate choice of the experimental conditions selectivities in DHA up to 100% were obtained. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.