Heating secondary benzylic alcohols in molten tetra-n-butyl ammonium bromide with catalytic amounts of palladium chloride under a gentle flow of argon produced corresponding ketones in good yields. Neither cooxidant nor additive were required, with the added advantage of catalyst and ammonium salt recycling. The dehydrogenation of primary benzylic alcohols was less selective. Such a reaction was ineffective from allylic and saturated alcohols. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.