The title complex,catena-poly[di-μ3-acetato-κ6O:O:O′-tetra-μ2-acetato-κ4O:O;κ4O:O′-diaquabis(pyridine-κN)trimanganese(II)], [Mn3(CH3COO)6(C6H5N)2(H2O)2]n, is a true one-dimensional coordination polymer, in which the MnIIcentres form a zigzag chain along [010]. The asymmetric unit contains two metal centres, one of which (Mn1) lies on an inversion centre, while the other (Mn2) is placed close to an inversion centre on a general position. Since all the acetates behave as bridging ligands, although with different μ2- and μ3-coordination modes, a one-dimensional polymeric structure is formed, based on trinuclear repeat units (Mn1...Mn2...Mn2′), in which the Mn2 and Mn2′ sites are related by an inversion centre. Within this monomeric block, the metal–metal separations are Mn1...Mn2 = 3.36180 (18) Å and Mn2...Mn2′ = 4.4804 (3) Å. Cation Mn1, located on an inversion centre, displays an [MnO6] coordination sphere, while Mn2, on a general position, has a slightly stronger [MnO5N] ligand field, as the sixth coordination site is occupied by a pyridine molecule. Both centres approximate an octahedral ligand field. The chains are parallel in the crystal structure and interactviahydrogen bonds involving coordinated water molecules. However, the shortest metal–metal separation between two chains [5.3752 (3) Å] is large compared with the intrachain interactions. These structural features are compatible with a single-chain magnet behaviour, as confirmed by preliminary magnetic studies.
