Kinetic studies on cupric ion ($Cu^{2+}$) oxidation of 1-benzyl- and 1-aryl-1,4-dihydronicotinamides (XNAH) in aqueous solution were performed. In the presence of dioxygen ($O_2$), the reaction followed first order kinetics with respect to both XNAH and $Cu^{2+}$. The oxidation reaction was found to be independent and parallel to the acid-catalyzed hydration reaction of XNAH. The catalytic role of $Cu^{2+}$ for the oxidation of XNAH in the presence of $O_2$ was attributed to $Cu^{2+}/Cu^+$ redox cycle by the reactions with XNAH and $O_2$. The second order rate constants of the Cu2+ oxidation reaction kCu, and acid-catalyzed hydration reaction $k_H$ were strongly dependent on the nature of the substituents in 1-aryl moiety. The slopes of log $k_{Cu}$ vs log $K_H$ and log $k_{Cu}$ vs ${sigma}_p$ of the substituents plots were 1.64 and -2.2, respectively. This revealed the greater sensitivity of the oxidation reaction rate to the electron density on the ring nitrogen than the hydration reaction rate. A concerted two-electron transfer route involving XNAH-$Cu^{2+}$ complex was proposed for mechanism of the oxidation reaction.