Microwave heating as an alternative to conventional heating for K-OMS catalyzed oxidation of tetralin under atmospheric pressure conditions has been described. The conversions and selectivities obtained by microwave and conventional heating are compared for K-OMS-2 catalysts. Significant differences were found in conversion and product distribution when comparing the conventional and microwave heated experimental results performed under the same reaction conditions. Conversions up to 88% and turnover frequencies up to 20 were achieved under microwave irradiation. The major products of oxidation of tetralin were tetralone and tetralol (>75%). In addition, the effects of using different solvent systems in the reactions were studied. The characterization of catalysts before and after the reactions using XRD, SEM, and Raman are reported. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.