The deoximation kinetics of some oximes was studied by using cetyltrimethylammonium dichromate (CTADC) in dichloromethane in the presence of acetic acid and a cationic surfactant. The rate of reaction is highly sensitive to the change in [CTADC], [oxime], [acid], [surfactant], polarity of the solvents, and reaction temperature. The reaction is found to be catalyzed by acid with an appreciable uncatalytic rate. The reaction is first order with respect to substrate. With increase in CTADC concentration, rate of the reaction increases with a fractional order dependency with respect to oxidant. Consistent to the observation, a mechanism has been proposed in which the substrate forms a complex with CTADC in the rate determining step followed by decomposition with a fast process to yield corresponding carbonyl compounds. The structure of the substituents has also a significant effect on the rate constant. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 482–488, 2011