The kinetics of the oxidation of 1,2-butanediol or mephenesin by ditelluratocuprate(Ⅲ)(DTC)was investigated spectrophotometrically at temperatures between 283.2-303.2 K in alkaline media.The reaction rate showed first order dependence in DTC and fractional order in 1,2-butanediol or mephenesin.It was shown that the pseudofirst-order rate constant kobs increased with an increase in concentration of OH-and a decrease in concentration of TeO42-.The reaction has a negative salt effect.A plausible mechanism of reaction involving a pre-equilibrium of adduct formation between the complex and 1,2-butanediol or mephenesin was proposed.The rate equations derived from the mechanism can explain all the experimental phenomena.The activation parameters for the rate-determining step were also calculated.