Research progress including our own work in preparation and application of μ-oxo-bismetal-lotetraphenylporphyrin biomimetic catalysts is reviewed. All synthetic methods of the μ-oxo-bismetallo- tetraphenylporphyrins are comprehensively discussed, involving the two-step method, the chromatographic column method, the one-step method, the auto-oxidation method and the one-pot method developed by our group. Although the yield of the μ-oxo-bismetallotetraphenylporphyrin compounds by using the one-pot method has been not high enough now, potentially it would become a good method for synthesis in the future due to the simple steps and no need of purification of intermediate products. Some applications of the μ-oxo-bismetallotetraphenylporphyrins as biomimetic catalysts are elaborated upon. Further investigations will be focused on the oxidation of hydrocarbons to products containing oxygen by using the μ-oxo-bismetallotetraphenylporphyrins as catalysts because of their advantages and features such as using smaller dosage rates of the catalysts, a cheaper and cleaner oxidant O2, and neither co-catalysts nor co-reductants as well as milder reaction conditions.

Key words: biomimetic catalyst, μ-oxo-bismetallotetraphenylporphyrin compound, synthesis, progress, application