The invention relates to the field of carbohydrate chemistry. Provided is a process for the regioselective oxidation of a single secondary hydroxy function of a carbohydrate substrate comprising two or more secondary hydroxy functions, comprising contacting the carbohydrate substrate in a solvent in the presence of a transition metal catalyst complex with an oxidizing agent to yield a mono-oxidized carbohydrate.

The invention relates to the field of carbohydrate chemistry. Provided is a process for the regioselective oxidation of a single secondary hydroxy function of a carbohydrate substrate comprising two or more secondary hydroxy functions, comprising contacting the carbohydrate substrate in a solvent in the presence of a transition metal catalyst complex with an oxidizing agent to yield a mono-oxidized carbohydrate.