The Mn-nitrosyl complexes [Mn(PaPy3)(NO)](ClO4) (1; PaPy3- = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-N-ethyl-2-pyridine-2-carboxamide) and [Mn(PaPy(2)Q)(NO))(ClO4) (2, PaPy(2)Q(-) = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-N-ethyl-2-quinoline-2-carboxamide) show a remarkable photolability of the NO ligand upon irradiation of the complexes with UV-vis-NIR light [Eroy-Reveles, A. A.; Leung, Y.; Beavers, C. M.; Olmstead, M. M.; Mascharak, P. K. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008, 130, 4447]. Here we report detailed spectroscopic and theoretical studies on complexes 1 and 2 that provide key insight into the mechanism of NO photolabilization in these compounds. IR- and FT-Raman spectroscopy show N-O and Mn NO stretching frequencies in the 1720-1750 and 630-650 cm(-1) range, respectively, for these Mn-nitrosyls. The latter value for v(Mn NO) is one of the highest transition-metal NO stretching frequencies reported to this date, indicating that the Mn NO bond is very strong in these complexes. The electronic structure of 1 and 2 is best described as Mn(I)-NO+, where the Mn(I) center is in the diamagnetic low-spin state and the NO ligand forms two very strong pi backbonds with the d(xz) and d(yz) orbitals of the metal. This explains the very strong Mn NO bonds observed in these complexes, which even supersede the strengths of the Fe and Mn-NO bonds in analogous (isoelectronic) Fe/Ru(II)-NO+ complexes. Using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations, we were able to assign the electronic spectra of 1 and 2, and to gain key insight into the mechanism of NO photorelease in these complexes. Upon irradiation in the UV region, NO is released because of the direct excitation of d(pi)_pi* -> pi*_d(pi) charge transfer (CT) states (direct mechanism), which is similar to analogous NO adducts of Ru(III) and Fe(III) complexes. These are transitions from the Mn NO bonding (d(pi)_pi*) into the Mn NO antibonding (pi*_d(pi)) orbitals within the Mn NO pi backbond. Since these transitions lead to the population of Mn NO antibonding orbitals, they promote the photorelease of NO. In the case of 1 and 2, further transitions with distinct d(pi)_pi* -> pi*_d(pi) CT character are observed in the 450-500 nm spectral range, again promoting photorelease of NO. This is confirmed by resonance Raman spectroscopy, showing strong resonance enhancement of the Mn NO stretch at 450-500 nm excitation. The extraordinary photolability of the Mn-nitrosyls upon irradiation in the vis-NIR region is due to the presence of low-lying d(xy) -> pi*_d(pi) singlet and triplet excited states. These have zero oscillator strengths, but can be populated by initial excitation into d(xy) -> L(Py/Q pi*) CT transitions between Mn and the coligand, followed by interconversion into the d(xy) -> pi*_d(pi) singlet excited states. These show strong spin orbit coupling with the analogous d(xy) -> pi*_d(pi) triplet excited states, which promotes intersystem crossing. TD-DFT shows that the d(xy) -> pi*_d(pi) triplet excited states are indeed found at very low energy. These states are strongly Mn NO antibonding in nature, and hence, promote dissociation of the NO ligand (indirect mechanism). The Mn-nitrosyls therefore show the long sought-after potential for easy tunability of the NO potorelease properties by simple changes in the coligand.