Abstract2,2′‐Bipyridyl and some substituted compounds catalyze effectively the oxidation of isopropyl alcohol by chromic acid. The reaction is first order in chromium(VI), alcohol and 2,2′‐bipyridyl; it is first order in hydrogen ions at high acidity and slightly alters to second order at low acidity. The proposed mechanism shows that the rate‐limiting step is mainly the decomposition of a termolecular complex to products. However, at low acidity, the formation step of this complex is a little less reversible and hence somewhat rate‐limiting. Electron‐donating substituents at the 4‐position enhance the catalytic activity. Electron‐withdrawing substituents at the 4‐ and 2‐positions diminish the reaction rates by electron