Abstract Ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) oxidation of bicyclic monoterpenes (BMT) such as borneol (BORN), isoborneol (IBORN) and camphor (CAMP) in aqueous acetonitrile medium did not proceed even under reflux conditions and mineral acid-free conditions. But addition of micelle forming surfactants (M) like sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and Triton X-100 accelerated the rate of oxidation. Kinetics of oxidation of the reactions revealed first order dependence on both [CAN] and [BMT]. Mechanism of oxidation has been explained through the participation of micelle-bound oxidant (M-CAN) and bicyclic monoterpene in the slow step.