Expected and unexpected transformations of manganese(III) tris(4-nitrophenyl)corrole.

The synthesis and characterization of manganese complexes of 5,10,15-tris(4-nitrophenyl) corrole in different oxidation states are described. Adoption of established protocols for the synthesis of (nitrido)manganese(V) complexes led to the expected corrole derivative as a minor product, accompanied by nitrogen atom insertion into the macrocycle. The major product was fully characterized via the combination of spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography as (nitrido)manganese(V) 6-azahemiporphycene.