Efficient oxidation of primary alcohols and beta-amino alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and alpha-amino aldehydes can be carried out at room temperature and in methylene chloride, using trichloroisocyanuric acid in the presence of catalytic TEMPO: aliphatic, benzylic, and allylic alcohols, and beta-amino alcohols are rapidly oxidized without no overoxidation to carboxylic acids. Secondary carbinols are slowly oxidized so that the reaction is highly chemoselective. Reaction: see text.