The selective oxidation of alcohols with molecular oxygen was efficiently completed in high conversion and selectivity using copper-bisisoquinoline-based catalysts under mild reaction condition. The effects of various parameters such as reaction temperature, reaction time, oxidant, ligands, etc, were studied. Solvent effect has been as well studied in ionic liquids [ bmim] PF6, [ omim] BF4 and [ hmim] BF4, comparing to traditional volatile organic solvent. The use of ionic liquids was found to enhance the catalytic properties of the catalysts used.