Efficient epoxidation, in very high conversions and selectivities, of aromatic hydrocarbons with hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of MnIII porphyrins [Mn(TDCPP)Cl, Mn(βNO2TDCPP)Cl, Mn(TPFPP)Cl] as catalysts is described; naphthalene and anthracene afford the anti-1,2:3,4-arene dioxides whereas with phenanthrene the 9,10-oxide is obtained.
