Laser flash photolysis generation and kinetic studies of corrole-manganese(V)-oxo intermediates

Corrole-manganese(V)-oxo intermediates were produced by laser flash photolysis of the corresponding corrole-manganese(IV) chlorate complexes, and the kinetics of their decay reactions in CH2Cl2 and their reactions with organic reductants were studied. The corrole ligands studied were 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (H3TPFC), 5,10,15-triphenylcorrole (H3TPC), and 5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl)-10-(p-methoxyphenyl)corrole (H3BPFMC). In self-decay reactions and in reactions with substrates, the order of reactivity of (Cor)Mn(V)(O) was TPC > BPFMC > TPFC, which is inverted from that expected based on the electron-demand of the ligands. The rates of reactions of (Cor)Mn(V)(O) were dependent on the concentration of the oxidant and other manganese species, with increasing concentrations of various manganese species resulting in decreasing rates of reactions, and the apparent rate constant for reaction of (TPFC)Mn(V)(O) with triphenylamine was found to display fractional order with respect to the manganese-oxo species. The kinetic results are consistent in part with a reaction model involving disproportionation of (Cor)Mn(V)(O) to give (Cor)Mn(IV) and (Cor)Mn(VI)(O) species, the latter of which is the active oxidant. Alternatively, the results are consistent with oxidation by (Cor)Mn(V)(O) which is reversibly sequestered in non-reactive complexes by various manganese species.