The ruthenium complex Ru(terpyridine)(2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate) was successfully grafted onto MCM-41 using a multi-step grafting method. The immobilized ruthenium complex was characterized thoroughly using Fourier transform infrared, Raman, UV–visible
diffuse reflectance and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction, N
2 adsorption, scanning
electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and
inductively coupled plasma analysis. This immobilized ruthenium complex showed excellent performance in the oxidation of various secondary alcohols to their corresponding ketones with
tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant under solvent-free conditions, and had the advantages of easy recovery and good reusability. Copyright