The reactivity of vanadium complexes bearing the ligand dipicolinic acid (H(2)dipic) with alcohols has been explored. Dipic vanadium complexes are able to catalyze the aerobic oxidative C-C bond cleavage of pinacol. Reaction under anaerobic conditions allowed for isolation of a V-III mu-oxo dimer, supporting the involvement of V-III in aerobic oxidation reactions. Stoichiometric oxidation of unactivated aliphatic alcohols has also been observed, with oxidation of cyctobutanot producing cyclobutanone in 93% yield. The absence of ring-opening products in this reaction provides further support for the involvement of V-III intermediates.