Process for preparing cyclic alcohols and ketones

1. Field of the Invention Cyclic alcohols and ketones having from 7-16 carbon atoms are prepared by a process comprising oxidizing cycloalkanes having 7-16 carbon atom s in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas and a sparingly water-soluble and sparingly aliphatic or cycloaliphatic hydrocarbon-soluble transition metal catalyst of Group 6 to Group 12 combined with a boron compound, and separating the sparingly soluble transition metal catalyst by mechanical separation after completion of the reaction.