A new aerobic carbon carbon-bond cleavage reaction of linear di-substituted alkenes, to yield the corresponding aldehydes/ketones in high selectivity under mild reaction conditions, is described using copper(II)substituted polyoxometalates, such as {alpha(2)-Cu(L)P2W17O61}(8-) or {[(Cu-(L)](2)WZn(ZnW9O34)(2)}(12-), as catalysts, where L = NO2. A biorenewable-based substrate, methyl oleate, gave methyl 8-formyloctanoate and nonanal in >90% yield. Interestingly, cylcoalkenes yield the corresponding epoxides as products. These catalysts either can be prepared by pretreatment of the aqua-coordinated polyoxometalates (L = H2O) with NO2 or are formed in situ when the reactions are carried with nitroalkanes (for example, nitroethane) as solvents or cosolvents. Nitroethane was shown to release NO2 under reaction conditions. P-31 NMR shows that the Cu-NO2-substituted polyoxometalates act as oxygen donors to the C-C double bond, yielding a Cu-NO product that is reoxidized to Cu-NO2 under reaction conditions to complete a catalytic cycle. Stoichiometric reactions and kinetic measurements using {alpha(2)-Co(NO2)P2W17O61}(8-) as oxidant and trans-stilbene derivatives as substrates point toward a reaction mechanism for C-C bond cleavage involving two molecules of {alpha(2)-Co(NO2)P2W17O61}(8-) and one molecule of trans-stilbene that is sufficiently stable at room temperature to be observed by P-31 NMR.