Oxidation of substituted toluenes by molecular oxygen at one atmosphere to the corresponding substituted benzoic acids in non-acidic solvents was investigated. Satisfactory oxidation of halo-, methoxy-, and cyano-toluenes were achieved using Co (C18H35O2) 2/NH4Br or Co (OAc) 2/NaBr/AcOH as catalysts in the presence of a radical initiator.