The oxidation mechanism of CH3CHCO initiated by OH is systematically studied using quantum theoretical methods. According to thermodynamic research, the dominant channel is the addition of CH3CHCO with OH generating C-IM1 (CH3CHOHCO) and C-IM2 (CH3CHCOOH), and then dissociate to the dominant products P1 (CH3CHO + CO) from C-IM1 with the lowest barrier. The rate constants for CH3CHCO + OH -> C-IM1 -> P1/CH3CHCO + OH -> C-IM2 channels are computed through RRKM theory at 200-2000 K. The obtained overall rate constant at 298 K (7.60 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) is well consistent with the reported experimental value. The atmospheric lifetime of CH3CHCO is estimated to be around 1.83 h.