Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidation of alkylaromatics by monopersulfate with preferential oxidative fission of the benzene ring

Ethylbenzene and a number of alkylbenzenes variously substituted at the alkyl chains, i.e. benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, benzonitrile, benzyl chloride and benzyl bromide, undergo effective oxidative fission of the benzene ring to carbon dioxide and water when reacting at room temperature with aqueous persulfate in the presence of catalytic amounts of ruthenium derivatives.