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The synthesis of a ruthenium complex bearing a PN-chelating ligand is described. The complex, in the presence of KOH, enabled the synthesis of ketones from secondary alcohols in the absence of a hydrogen acceptor in aqueous medium. This synthetic protocol, which uses water as the medium, is green and has a high atom economy as it avoids the use of an acceptor and produces hydrogen as the sole byproduct. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the catalytic cycle involves a phosphine dissociative pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]