Kinetic data suggest reduction of Ce-IV into Ce-III and elimination of Cl- and H+ ions before the rate-determining step in iridium(III) chloride catalyzed oxidation of cyclohexanol and cyclooctanol by cerium(IV) sulphate in aqueous sulphuric acid medium. IrCl3 was found to be equal or even a better catalyst compared to ruthenium for oxidations involving ceric ions. Effects of change of concentrations of Ce-IV, cycloallcohols, Ir-III, H+, Cl- and Ce-III on the reaction rate were determined. The order of the reaction changes from one to zero on increasing the concentration of the oxidant. Rate of the reaction was found to follow direct proportionality with respect to catalyst concentrations. Change in the order of reaction from first to zero was observed on increasing the concentration of organic substrate. External addition of H+, Cl- and Ce-III ions retards the reaction velocity. Spectrophotometric evidence was provided that it is the cerium and not catalyst, which forms complex with substrate. Parameters such as energy of activation, free energy of activation and entropy data were collected at five different temperatures, which suggest that cyclooctanol is more easily oxidizable compared to cyclohexanol. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.