5,10,15,20-Tetrakis-(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphinatocobalt(II) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphinatomanganese(III) chloride have been used as catalysts for the oxidative coupling of 2-aminophenol to 2-aminophenoxazine-3-one with molecular oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. The effects of pH and concentration of catalysts, hydrogen peroxide and oxygen on the oxidation reaction and yield of 2-aminophenoxazine-3-one have been studied. The oxidation of 2-aminophenol with molecular oxygen catalyzed by cobalt(II) tetra(4-sulfophenyl)porphyrin involves a hydrogen atom abstraction from 2-aminophenol by cobalt(II) superoxo species. UV-vis analysis indicated that oxomanganese(IV) is the active species in the oxidation of 2-aminophenol with hydrogen peroxide and manganese(III)tetra(4-sulfophenyl)porphyrin. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.