Described herein are methods and intermediates useful for making substituted porphyrins, including Mn(III) orthoN-butoxyethylpyridylporphyrin, and compositions comprising the same. In some embodiments, a method of the present invention provides a composition having a certain percentage or yield (e.g., at least 80%, 85%, 90%, or 95% by weight) of a compound of the present invention.