Distinctive mechanistic pathways account for the remarkable selectivity of a molecularly designed and robust manganese catalyst, Mn(Me2EBC) Cl-2, whose activated form has been isolated and thoroughly characterized. In keeping with the existence of two activated catalytic functional groups, Mn-IV(OH)(2)(2+) (BDEOH = 83.0 kcal/mol) and Mn-IV(O)OH+ (BDEOH = 84.3 kcal/mol), two distinctive Polanyi correlations are observed, the latter being over 10-fold more rapid despite their similarity. Remarkably, only relatively weak C-H bonds (<=similar to 82 kcal/mol) suffer hydrogen abstraction by either group, with the stoppage occurring at substrate BDECH >= catalyst BDEOH. Earlier studies established a selective Lewis acid mechanism as the dominant oxygen atom insertion pathway for this catalyst. These two pathways (hydrogen abstraction and oxygen atom transfer) dominate the oxidation reactions catalyzed by these systems, accounting for the moderate oxidizing power and associated selectivity of Mn(Me2EBC) Cl-2 in H2O2 oxidations.