The kinetics of Ru(III)-catalyzed oxidation of l-alanine (Ala) by diperiodatoargentate(III) (DPA) in alkaline medium at 25 °C and a constant ionic strength of 0.90 mol dm−3 was studied spectrophotometrically. The products are acetaldehyde, Ag(I), ammonia and bicarbonate. The [Ala] to [DPA] stoichiometry is 1:1. The reaction is first order in both [Ru(III)] and [DPA] and has less than unit order in both [Ala] and [alkali]. Addition of periodate has a retarding effect on the reaction. The effects of added products, ionic strength and dielectric constant of the reaction medium have been investigated. The reaction proceeds via a Ru(III)–Ala complex, which further reacts with one molecule of monoperiodatoargentate(III) in the rate-determining step. The reaction constants were calculated at different temperatures and the activation parameters have been evaluated.