Abstract: A process for the oxidation, in the presence of a cobalt salt, of straight-chain paraffinic compounds of general formula ##STR1## wherein n is an integer from 1 to 16 inclusive, Y.sup.1 is hydrogen or a substituent selected from the group consisting of X, CN, COOR and OCOR, wherein X is a halogen and R a hydrocarbon radical containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms inclusive and Y.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of Y.sup.1, CHX.sub.2 and CX.sub.3, and wherein Y.sup.1 is hydrogen when Y.sup.2 is CX.sub.3 or is X when Y.sup.2 is selected from the group consisting of CX.sub.3 and CHX.sub.2, with the selective formation of monoketones, having the same number of carbon atoms as the starting compound and of the general formula: ##STR2## wherein n, Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 are as defined above, the process comprising contacting said paraffinic compounds with a cobalt salt having a trivalent cobalt to the total cobalt ratio between 0.5 and 1.

Abstract: A process for the oxidation of aliphatic secondary alcohols having no tertiary hydrogen on a carbon atom in alpha position relative to the carbon atom linked to the hydroxyl group, with selective formation of ketones having the same number of carbon atoms, said process comprising contacting said alcohols with a cobalt salt having a trivalent cobalt to total cobalt ratio of between 0.5 and 1, the concentration of said cobalt salt being at least 0.05 mole per liter of reaction mixture, at a temperature between 20.degree. and 120.degree. C.