A highly efficient N-bromosuccinimide (NBS)-mediated transition metal-free catalytic system has developed for the efficient aerobic oxidation of aromatic alcohols. Various aromatic alcohols are successfully oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes or ketones under mild condition. For instance, benzyl alcohol is oxidized to benzaldehyde with 99% conversion in 94.5% selectivity with 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ)-NaNO2-NBS system under 0.3 MPa of O-2 at 90 degrees C for 2 h. The effects of reaction time, catalyst amount and solvents are investigated in detail, and a possible reaction mechanism is proposed. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.