Catalysis of peroxynitrite reactions by manganese and iron porphyrins

Kinetics and products of peroxynitrite anion O=NOO- reactions, catalyzed by water-soluble manganese and iron porphyrins, were studied under basic and neutral conditions. In the absence of organic substrates peroxynitrite decomposes catalytically to give nitrite and dioxygen as major products. Catalytic decomposition competes with direct oxidation of sulfoxide to sulfone, while phenol is catalytically nitrated in o- and p-positions. A reaction mechanism is proposed.