Given the preference of higher spin state of the Mn(V)-oxo intermediate from other literature studies 98, 101-102 , we move forward in this work assuming a mechanism where the higher-spin states are the preferred ground states for all the intermediates, i.e., HS quintet and IS triplet for the resting state intermediate and the manganese-oxo intermediate, respectively, and IS quartet for manganese-hydroxo and manganese-difluoro intermediates.