Synthesis, characterisation and catalytic activity investigations of rare earth cuprates with K2NiF4 structure have been carried out. The decomposition of cyclohexanol catalysed by these cuprates was investigated in the temperature range of 473-773 K. It was observed that in the series Ln(2)CuO(4) (Ln : La-Gd), only La2CuO4 favours dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone in the temperature range 553-613 K. The formation of cyclohexene - a dehydrated product is found to increase beyond 613 K. But, for the other lanthanide cuprates, cyclohexene is the predominant product throughout the temperature range studied. Since the activity and selectivity towards dehydrogenation is more for La2CuO4, kinetic measurements were restricted to La2CuO4. The higher selectivity towards the formation of cyclohexanone exhibited by the catalyst La2CuO4 may be attributed to the difference in structural and electronic properties which allow for O-H scission of cyclohexanol yielding cyclohexanone but in the case of cuprates of other lanthanides C-O scission occurs favouring cyclohexene formation.