N-Oxyl-mediated electrooxidation of alcohols was performed in an aqueous silica gel disperse system. The newly devised electrolysis system offers an organic solvent-free and operationally simple procedure for oxidation of alcohols and could be successfully applied to kinetic resolution of sec-alcohol as well as enantioselective oxidation of meso-1,4-diol affording optically active gamma -lactone. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.