Efficient methods for oxidation of alkanes and alkenes were obtained by using two manganses(III) porphyrin catalysts in combination with iodobenzene diacetate in a room temperature ionic liquid [bmim]PF6 (1-n-butyl-3-methytimidazolium hexafluorophosphate). The effects of various organic solvents on the reactions and the role of axial ligands were examined. The recyclability of the catalyst remained in the oily ionic liquid phase was also investigated. A high-valent manganese-oxo porphyrin complex (Mn-v = O) was considered as a reactive oxidation intermediate according to investigation by stopped-flow rapid spectroscopy. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.