Highly efficient ruthenium-catalyzed Oppenauer-type oxidations of secondary alcohols to ketones have been developed. The catalytic system consists of [(PPh,),RuCl,] (1) and K,CO, or (2) in refluxing acetone. The catalytic reaction is of high efficiency and permits a cata1yst:substrate ratio of 1 : lo00 at 56°C. In some cases the initial turnover rate exceeds 1500 h-'. The reaction was [ (C4Ph4COHOCC4Ph4)(p-H)(CO)4R~z]