C–H insertion reactions between different substrates and diazo reagents were catalyzed by tetratolylporphyrinato methyliridium (Ir(TTP)CH3). The highest yields were achieved for reactions between the bulky diazo reagent methyl 2-phenyldiazoacetate (MPDA) and substrates containing electron-rich C–H bonds. An intermediate metalloporphyrin complex was identified as a metal–carbene complex, Ir(TTP)(═C[Ph]CO2CH3)(CH3) (4), using 1H NMR and UV/vis absorption spectroscopy. The presence of 4 was further supported by computationally modeling the absorption spectra with time-dependent DFT (6-31G(d,p)/SBKJC basis set, PBE0 functional). Kinetic studies for C–H insertion reactions using different substrates showed substantial differences in the rate of MPDA consumption, suggesting that carbene transfer is rate-limiting. Furthermore, primary kinetic isotope effects of 3.7 ± 0.3 and 2.7 ± 0.4 were measured using toluene and cyclohexane, respectively. These data are consistent with a mechanism that involves direct C–H insertion rather than a radical rebound pathway.