Recent work on organic oxidations by osmium and ruthenium oxo complexes has been the subject of review No. 22 in the TMC Literature Highlights series (W. P. Griffith, Trans. Met. Chem., 1990, 15, (3), 251-256).

The most important osmium oxidant is Os0₄ which, when functioning catalytically, is one of the most effective, selective and efficient organic oxidants. Ruthenium complexes in the higher oxidation states are more powerful oxidants than their osmium analogues. While ruthenium(VI) complexes are mild, effective oxidants, osmium(VI) complexes have virtually no oxidative properties. (71 Refs.)