Electrochemical oxidation using renewable energy is an attractive strategy that provides a sustainable and mild approach for biomass transformation. Herein, the electrocatalytic oxidation of furfuryl alcohol in an aqueous solution was investigated using CuO nanorods. Two kinds of Cu-III intermediates, namely, (CuO2)(-) and (Cu2O6)(6-), were detected on the surface of the working electrode. (Cu2O6)(6-), generated in the potential range of 1.35-1.39 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), induced the oxidation of furfuryl alcohol to furaldehyde with a yield of >= 98%. (CuO2)(-), generated at a potential greater than 1.39 V versus RHE, which led to the oxidation of furfuryl alcohol to 2-furoic acid with a yield of >= 99%. Furthermore, the Cu-III-catalyzed system exhibited a measure of universal applicability, wherein (Cu2O6)(6-) and (CuO2)(-) induced the highly selective electro-oxidation of benzyl alcohol, vanillyl alcohol, and 4-pyridinemethanol to yield the corresponding aldehydes and acids, respectively.