The novel coordination polymer [Mn(Andolast)(H2O)] was isolated in the form of air- and moisture-stable polycrystalline powders by reacting Mn(CH3COO)(2)center dot 4H(2)O and the sodium salt of N-4-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)phenyl-4-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) benzamide (Na(2)Andolast). The crystal structure of [Mn(Andolast)(H2O)], determined by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) structure solution methods, is composed by 1-D double-chain motifs. The thermal behavior of [Mn(Andolast)(H2O)] was investigated by coupling thermal analyses to variable-temperature PXRD: water evolution takes place in the range 80-250 degrees C with no change of the unit cell parameters up to 180 degrees C; at 200 degrees C, a low-crystallinity phase is formed, surviving up to 300 degrees C. The electronic transition spectroscopic properties of both Na2Andolast and the coordination polymer were assessed, with particular care to luminescence: [Mn(Andolast)(H2O)] is luminescent already at room temperature, even if its emission is reduced with respect to that of Na(2)Andolast, mainly as a consequence of the enhanced rate of non-radiative decays. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.