A clean and highly efficient alcohol oxidation, using hydrogen peroxide in the presence of l-aspartic acid coupled imidazolium based ionic liquid [L-AAIL], was achieved under solvent free condition with excellent yield. In this catalytic system, variety of alcohol including inactive aliphatic alcohol, could be completely oxidized with high conversion and selectivity. The catalyst can be recycled and reused for seven runs without any significant loss of its activity. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.