The kinetics of oxidation of cadaverine (CAD) by permanganate ion in acidic, neutral and alkaline media has been investigated spectrophtometrically at constant ionic strengths and temperature. The reactions in different media exhibited a first order kinetics in [MnO4 - ] and less than unit order dependences with respect to [CAD]. The oxidation of cadaverine showed less than unit order dependences with respect to [H+ ] and [OH- ] in acidic and alkaline media, respectively. Variation of ionic strengths in both acidic and alkaline media had no significant effect on the oxidation rates. The proposed oxidations mechanisms in all media involve formation of 1:1 intermediate complexes between the kinetically active species of both cadaverine and permanganate ion. The final oxidation products of cadaverine were identified as 5-aminopentanal and ammonia. The appropriate rate laws in all media were deduced. The reaction constants involved in the different steps of the mechanisms were evaluated.