The kinetics of the oxidation of cyclic ketones by nicotinium dichromate (NDC), in acetonitrile medium, catalysed by 1,10-phenonthroline has been investigated. The order of reactivity for the cyclic ketones was C8 > C6 > C7 > C5. The reaction shows fractional order dependence with respect to [substrate] and [H+] and first order dependence with respect to [oxidant]. Activation parameters have been evaluated and a suitable mechanism has been proposed.