An environmentally benign oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant and metal dodecanesulfonate salts as catalysts was conducted under solvent-free condition by biphasic catalysis. Ferric tridodecanesulfonate showed excellent catalytic activity exhibiting complete conversion of benzyl alcohol with 194.4 mol/mol(cat) turnover number (TON) and nearly 100% selectivity to benzaldehyde at ambient pressure and 90 degrees C. This catalyst can be recovered and reused for three times without a significant loss in its activity and selectivity. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.