Manganese porphyrins bearing electron-withdrawing nitro substituents on the beta-positions catalyse the oxidation of activated aromatic compounds by hydrogen peroxide. The reaction yields based on the starting compounds, are largely lowered by complexation of the metal by the final or starting phenolic compounds and depend on the concentration of the added co-catalyst, e.g. imidazole. Using hindered silyl or sec-butyl ether derivatives of cresol, the reaction gives better results. In this case, it is possible to isolate the corresponding benzyl alcohol and benzoic acid derivatives in a moderate yield for such substrates. For the sec-butyl ether derivative, the corresponding quinone has also been isolated. The conversion of the benzyl alcohols into the benzoic acid derivatives under the experimental conditions was also demonstrated. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.