Manganese complexes of 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (Mn(TPP)Cl) were grafted on SBA-15 functionalized with propyl-amine, -thiol and -sulfonic acid groups. The acido-basic properties of the support influenced the oxidation state, redox behavior and selective oxidation properties of the Mn complexes. Acidic supports (SBA-15-pr-SH and SBA-15-pr-SO(3)H) promoted the reduction of Mn ions in Mn-TPP complexes from 3+ to 2+ oxidation state. A similar behavior was found also when Mn(Salen)Cl complexes were immobilized on those supports. However, the extent of such facile reduction was more in the case of Mn-TPP than in Mn-Salen complexes. The former exhibited superior catalytic activity (turnover frequency) than the latter-type Mn complexes in regio-, stereo- and chemoselective oxidation of R-(+)-limonene with molecular oxygen (1 atm) at ambient temperatures. The catalytic oxidation activity correlates with the redox behavior of the grafted Mn complexes. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.