Ruthenium catalysed oxidation without CCl4 of oleic acid, other monoenic fatty acids and alkenes

Ruthenium catalysed oxidation of alkenes and monoenic fatty acids is reported. The study of the influence of cosolvents (H2O/MeCN/X) shows that toxic CCl4 initially used in the Sharpless system (H2O/MeCN/CCl4) can be avoided and demonstrates that the oxidative cleavage of CC bond could be accomplished in good yields with H2O/MeCN/AcOEt solvent system in a ratio 3/2/2, respectively.