The kinetics of oxidation of D-glucose, D-galactose, Dfructose, D-ribose, D-arabinose, D-xylose and 2-deoxy-D-glucose by diperiodatoargentate(III) (DPA) have been investigated in alkaline medium. The order of the reaction with respect to [DPA] is unity while the order with respect to [-sugar] is < 1 over the concentration range studied. The rate increases with an increase in [OH-] and there is a marginal decrease in the rate with an increase in [IO~-]. No significant dependence on ionic strength was found, but the rate increases with a decreasing dielectric constant. Formic acid and the corresponding aldonic acids were detected as the products of oxidation. The participation of the open chain form of the sugar and a mechanism involving the initial formation of a complex between the enediol of the sugar and Ag In are proposed.