TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preparation (Claimed): Preparation of (I) comprises: forming a mixture of a metal complex comprising a metal atom and (I); and exposing the mixture to microwave energy, to form a compound comprising the macrocycle and the metal atom, where the metal atom is coordinated by at least some of the heteroatoms within the central binding cavity of the macrocycle. Preferred Method: In the preparation of (I): Y1 is substituted with at least one -Z1-P1 (comprising -COOP1, -PO(OR)(OP1), -B(OR)(OP1), -CO(NR)(NP1), -NRP1, -C(NR2)(NRP1) or -OP1, where R is an organic substituent and P1 is a protecting group), or -COOR2, (where R2 is alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, heteroaryl or a protecting group (all optionally substituted), or H) and following exposure to microwave energy, Y1 is substituted with -Z1-D1 (comprising -COOD1, -PO(OR)(OD1), -B(OR)(OD1), -CO(NR)(ND1) -NRD1, -C(NR2) (NR)D1), or -OD1, where D1 is deprotecting group or optionally absent) and the method further comprises reacting the compound of formula (-Y1-Z1-D1) following exposure to microwave energy, to form a compound of formula (-Y1-Z1-H); or Y1 is substituted with G1, and exposing the mixture to microwave energy to form a compound comprising the macrocycle and the metal atom, where the metal atom is coordinated by at least some of the heteroatoms within the central binding cavity of the macrocycle and G1 (not defined). The catalysis comprises: forming oxygen gas from water, and the exposing comprises exposing (I) to water, in which oxygen gas is formed from water following application of a voltage to (I); or forming hydrogen gas from water, and the exposing comprises exposing (I) to water, acid and/or organic solvent, where hydrogen gas is formed from the water, acid, and/or organic solvent following application of a voltage to (I); or reducing carbon dioxide, and the exposing comprises exposing (I) to carbon dioxide, where the carbon dioxide is reduced after application of a voltage to (I). Preferred Definitions:    X1 = chlorin moiety of formula (A1), bacteriochlorin moiety of formula (A2), isobacteriochlorin moiety of formula (A3), corrole moiety of formula (A4), corrin moiety of formula (A5), porphyrin moiety of formula (A6), porphycene, (18)porphyrin(2.1.0.1), N-confused porphyrin, sapphyrin, heterosapphyrin, rubyrin, orangarin, cycle(8)pyrrole, rosarin, turcasarin, texaphyrin, cryptan, calixphyrin or catenane (all optionally substituted);    R1 = alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkylalkenyl, cycloalkylalkynyl, acyl, carboxylic acid, acylamino, alkylthio, amino, alkylamino, arylalkylamino, alkoxy, arylalkyl or alkylaryl (all optionally substituted), or H;    R5 = alkyl, aryl, heteroalkyl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkylalkenyl, cycloalkylalkynyl, acyl, carboxylic acid, carboxylate, acylamino, alkylthio, amino, alkylamino, arylalkylamino or alkoxy (all optionally substituted), H, halo, CN, CO2 or OH;    M1 = metal atom, semi-metal atom, or at least one H; and    Y1 = xanthene, dibenzofuran, biphenylene or anthracene.    Provided that: at least one R1 is Y1; and at least one R5 is electron-withdrawing group.    SPECIFIC COMPOUNDS - 5 Compounds (I) are disclosed i.e. 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octafluoro-10-(4-(5-hydroxycarbonyl-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene))-5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl) cobalt corrole of formula (Ia), 5-(4-(5-hydroxycarbonyl-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene))-10,15,20-tris(pentafluorophenyl)-porphyrinatocobalt(II), 5-(4-(5-bromo-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethylxanthene))-10,15,20-tris(pentafluorophenyl)-porphyrinatocobalt, 5-(4-(5-bromo-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene))-10,15,20-tris(pentafluorophenyl)-porphyrintozinc and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrintocobalt.    EXAMPLE - Chloroform (425 ml) was placed in an oven dried round bottom flask (1000 ml) and purged with high flow of argon for 1 hour, and 3,4-difluoropyrrole (0.412 g) was added. The reaction flask was covered with aluminum foil and purged with argon for 45 minutes. A sample of pentafluorobenzaldehyde (0.46 ml) and 2,7-di-tert-butyl-5-formyl-9,9-dimethyl-9H-xanthene-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (0.1 g) were added. The resulting mixture was purged with argon in dark for additional 45 minutes. Then a sample of boron trifluoride, diethyl ether (0.168 ml) was added drop wise via syringe. The reaction mixture was stirred under argon in dark for 1 hour. Then a sample of 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (0.453 g) was added in once and the resulting mixture was stirred for 1 hour. The resulting crude reaction mixture was concentrated to dryness and purified to give 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octafluoro-10-(4-(5-methoxycarbonyl-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene))-5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (IA). Then a solution of (IA) (50 mg) in tetrahydrofuran (2 ml) was treated with 6 N sodium hydroxide (2 ml). The reaction mixture was subjected to microwave irradiation for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was diluted with dichloromethane (100 ml), washed with water and brine, dried with sodium sulfate, and worked up to give 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octafluoro-10-(4-(5-hydroxycarbonyl-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene))-5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (IB). Then a microwave glass tube (10 ml) containing a magnetic stir bar was charged with chloroform (2 ml) and (IB) (22 mg). The solution was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes to obtain a homogenous mixture. Cobalt(II) acetate (17 mg) was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes after which the reaction vessel was sealed with a septum and subjected to microwave irradiation at 60 degrees C. Then a sample of triethylamine (5 molar equivalents to metal salt) was added to the solution, which was washed with water and brine, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated to dryness to give 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octafluoro-10-(4-(5-hydroxycarbonyl-2,7-di-tert-butyl-9,9-dimethyl-xanthene))-5,15-bis(pentafluorophenyl) cobalt corrole (yield 92%).