Sodium ruthenate catalyses the oxidation of 2-propanol by hexacyanoferrate(III) ([Fe(CN)6]3−), diperiodato-cuprate(III) (DPC), periodate $ (IO_{4}^{-}) $ and chloramine-T (CAT) in aqueous alkali. Except when CAT was used as an oxidant, the reactions were first order with respect to [RuVI] and zero order in [oxidant]. The reaction rate increases with the increase in [substrate] and exhibits Michaelis-Menton type behaviour. The rate is independent of [alkali] and ionic strength. The rate data suggests that oxidation proceeds via the formation of a 1:1 RuVI-2-propanol precursor complex which dispro-portionates into acetone and RuIV in a rate determining step. The rates of RuVI-catalysed oxidation of 2-propanol by different oxidants were found to be similar to the rate of 2-propanol oxidation by RuVI in the absence of the oxidant. A plausible mechanism, consistent with the experimental data, is proposed and discussed.