The catalytic activity of 1, 10-phenanthroline (phen) in Cr(VI) oxidation of phenols has been studied in 40% acetic acid medium. The Cr(VI) phen complex is believed to be the probable electrophile in the catalyzed oxidation. The catalytic activity is quite likely to shift the redox potential of the oxidant.The kinetics of the oxidation of cyclicketones by benzyltriethylammonium chlorochromate(BTEACC),in aqueous acetic acid medium have been reported. The rate shows first order dependence in [BTEACC] and fractional order with respect to [substrate] , [H+] and [phen]. The order of reactivity for the cyclicketones has been observed. The proposed mechanism involves acid catalyzed enolisation of cyclicketones in the slow and rate determining step, followed by its fast interaction with BTEACC giving corresponding 1,2-diketones as final products. Thermodynamic parameters have been computed by studying the reaction at different temperatures.