[RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) on carbon: an efficient, selective, reusable, and environmentally versatile heterogeneous catalyst.

[reaction: see text] A heterogeneous ruthenium catalyst, easily prepared by adsorption of [RuCl(2)(p-cymene)](2) on activated carbon, exhibited a highly efficient and selective catalytic activity in various environmentally attractive transformations such as aerobic oxidation, hydrolytic oxidation, and dehydration processes with excellent recyclability.