Primary hydroxyl groups in aqueous starch, pullulan and methyl alpha -D-glucopyranoside were oxidised to the corresponding carboxylic acid functionalities by TEMPO-(4-X)-derivatives using sodium hypochlorite as the primary oxidant. All the combinations of substrates and nitroxyl radicals resulted in stoichiometric conversions, and the selectivity for oxidation of primary hydroxyls was high. Some depolymerisation occurred throughout the oxidation, especially when 4-acetoxy and 4-mesyl-TEMPO were used. The pH window of the activity of the inexpensive 4-acetamido-TEMPO was found to be substantially lower from that of the other tested TEMPO-derivatives; thus allowing milder reaction conditions. At pH 8, the rate of oxidation was ca. two times higher when 4-acetamido-TEMPO was used compared to the other catalysts.