A ruthenium heteropolyanion as catalyst for alkane and alkene oxidation

A ruthenium heteropolyanion, SiRu(H2O)W11O395–, has been synthesized which catalyses the liquid phase oxidation of alkanes and alkenes with various primary oxidants including potassium persulphate, sodium periodate, t-butyl hydroperoxide, and iodosylbenzene; the activity and selectivity vary with the oxidant used.