Rhodium(III) porphyrin beta-hydroxyethyl, Rh-III(ttp)CH2CH2OH (ttp = 5,10,15,20-tetratolylporphyrinato dianion), was found to serve as a precursor of the highly reactive Rh-III(ttp)OH for the C(CO)-C(alpha) bond activation (CCA) of ketones under mild and aerobic conditions of 25-50 degrees C.